Here are the grades with some information about each:
Grade A: Golden Color with Delicate Flavor
– makes a delicious topping for ice cream, also enjoyed on pancakes & other breakfast foods
Grade A: Amber Color with Rich Flavor
– most often used for “table syrup”; generally accepted by all; also used in salad dressings and to sweeten tea or coffee
Grade A: Dark Color with Robust Flavor (formerly Grade B)
– heartier flavor enjoyed by many, and also best for use in cooking (glaze for meat or salmon, baked beans, barbecue sauce, baking)
Grade A: Very Dark Color with Strong Flavor (not commonly sold at the retail level in Michigan)
– this grade of maple syrup is requested by our customers who enjoy the strongest flavor (unique to the syrup produced at the end of the season).
Nothing is done differently during processing to create the different grades. They are a natural result of whatever sap flows from the trees at various times during the season. Which one is best? That’s up to you! We like them all!
INGREDIENTS: Pure maple syrup is a natural food, produced from pure maple sap. Sap is the liquid nutrient in the tree used for growth, and it is the only ingredient used to make syrup.
NO other ingredients, additives, or preservatives are added during the production process. Maple syrup is non-GMO.
Maple syrup is a dietary source of Manganese, Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Magnesium, Zinc, Potassium, Calcium, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Iron and Selenium. (Source: USDA Nutrient Database and Canadian Nutrient File)
Pure maple syrup contains ~50 calories per tablespoon, is gluten-free, fat-free, cholesterol-free and virtually sodium-free as well.
In short, when choosing a sweetener, pure maple syrup is the best choice for the health-conscious individual!