Let me tell you a little something about my favourite natural syrup – Maple Syrup.
This is the ‘healthiest’ version of a syrup you can get. This is because, the real, natural form of Maple syrup has nutrients you’d otherwise not get from other syrups or the artificial version of Maple syrup on the market.
When shopping for Maple syrup, you may find it strange how vastly different the prices are. Be sure to know that the cheaper Maple syrup is, in fact, not actually Maple syrup but an artificially flavoured version.
Real Maple syrup comes from a real Maple tree made from the sap of Maple trees and contains natural sugars, minerals, and trace amounts of vitamins. It is a more natural and less processed option for sure. It’s essentially a natural sugar that comes from a natural source. Typically it’s produced by boiling down the syrup sap of the Maple tree to concentrate the natural sugars to give us the consistency we are familiar with.
Artificial Maple syrup is usually made with high fructose corn syrup or other artificial sweeteners, with added artificial flavours and additives. It has a very different nutritional profile and contains fewer or no natural nutrients or the vitamins. Nutritionally, there is definitely a difference between real Maple syrup and artificial Maple syrup.
It is always recommended to check the labels and ingredients to understand the specific ingredients and nutritional content of the product you are consuming.
Did you know that Maple trees typically need to reach a certain age and size before they can be tapped for Maple syrup production. Generally, Maple trees are ready to be harvested for sap when they are around 30 to 40 years old. The exact age can vary depending on various factors such as the species of Maple tree, growing conditions, and overall health of the tree. The farmers always make sure that the tree is mature enough to sustain tapping without causing harm to its long-term health and growth.
The fresh harvesting process is one of the reasons why real Maple syrup is so pricey in comparison to the artificial version. Another reason for the higher price tag on true Maple syrup is the fact that this syrup is imported. Maple trees are primarily grown in regions with a mild climate, particularly in North America. They are most commonly found in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada, including areas such as Vermont, New Hampshire, Quebec, and Ontario. Maple trees can also be found in other parts of the world, including Europe and Asia, where suitable climate conditions exist. In South Africa we typically get our real Maple syrups from Canada.
I usually only have a tea spoon of Maple syrup drizzled on my home-made pancakes or in our occasional winter morning porridge 🙂
I always believe that if I am going to have something sweet it needs to have some form of nutrition and choosing real Maple syrup is the best option all round.
With love,
Shirley