Maple syrup poured over pancakes, waffles or French toast is a sweet breakfast comfort food, especially on cold winter days.
It has a distinct taste and aroma with notes of caramel, butterscotch and vanilla, complemented by nutty and floral accents.
Maple syrup has been made for centuries by extracting sap from maple trees and then boiling it down — a process that leads to the “miracle of pure maple flavor” and the amber color, created when the amino acids in the sap react with its sugar, the International Maple Syrup Institute notes.
The U.S. is the world’s second-largest producer, behind Canada, with about half of U.S. maple syrup coming from Vermont, according to the Canadian government.
Some maple syrup producers call their product a “superfood,” but is maple syrup really good for you?
Maple syrup nutrition:
Pure maple syrup is 66% sugar — a bit less sweet than honey, which is naturally about 80% sugar.
One tablespoon contains the following, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
- 52 calories
- 13 grams of carbohydrates
- 12 grams of sugar
Maple syrup has no fat, protein, fiber or cholesterol, but one tablespoon contains trace amounts of calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, manganese, selenium and riboflavin.
In all, the syrup contains more than 67 bioactive natural plant compounds with potential health benefits, according to the Collaborative to Communicate Maple Benefits at The University of Rhode Island, which is funded by a federal grant to promote the maple industry. It calls maple syrup “a smarter sweetener.”
What are the health benefits of maple syrup?
Maple syrup contains antioxidants and minerals so in the context of substituting one sweetener for another, it offers a few benefits that regular white granulated sugar doesn’t, says Allison Arnett, a registered dietitian and lecturer of nutrition sciences at the University of New Haven in Connecticut.
It also has a slightly lower glycemic index than other sugars, so it raises blood…
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