Sugar Alternative - Maple from Canada (2024)

FAQs

Is maple syrup from Canada better? ›

That being said, the fact that Canada is a world-leading figure in terms of maple syrup allows for a vast variety of quality and grades in the country. Whatever your taste buds dictate you, you always have access to an array of options and the choice is yours for the taking.

When replacing granulated sugar in a recipe with maple syrup you should consider both the sugar balance and the liquid balance of the recipe. Some recommendations say to add 1 ¼ cup of syrup to replace one cup of sugar, others say to replace one cup of sugar with ¾ cup of maple syrup.

Maple syrup is a healthier alternative to sugar. Maple syrups are not processed like the other kind of sweeteners we use in our daily life, so it still contains most nutrients from their natural state. The less someone changes an ingredient's original form, the more nutritional value will be kept.

Lower risk of blood sugar spikes

Maple sugar contains low amounts of fructose, which gives it a lower glycemic index than white and brown sugars. This glycemic index ranks foods based on how quickly they cause your blood sugar to rise. Blood sugar spikes can cause tiredness and hunger soon after a meal.

Vermont, like Canada, has suitable conditions for harvesting maple syrup. However, Canada's perfect climate and vast troves of sugar maples give it the upper hand when it comes to production.

Canada produces 71% of the world's pure maple syrup, 91% of which is produced in Quebec. Canada's maple syrup producing regions are located in the provinces of Quebec (primary producer), Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. There are more than 8,600 maple syrup businesses in Canada.

Stevia and monk fruit are both naturally derived from plants and some people feel they have a flavor very similar to regular sugar. The FDA says these sweeteners are “generally regarded as safe,” which means they are safe to use for their intended purpose.

It is healthier to stick to organic and pure maple syrup – or “real maple syrup” as it is sometimes called.

The Bottom Line. Even though maple syrup does contain some nutrients and antioxidants, it is also very high in sugar. Calorie for calorie, maple syrup is a very poor source of nutrients compared to whole foods like vegetables, fruits and unprocessed animal foods.

Another advantage of honey over maple syrup is that honey offers more vitamins — B-6 and C — while maple syrup lacks this vitamin profile. But what maple syrup lacks in vitamins, it makes up for in minerals. Maple syrup offers more iron, calcium, zinc, and potassium than honey does.

Is maple syrup anti-inflammatory? ›

The study looked at how the molecule in maple syrup, quebecol, affected known substances in the human body that relate to inflammation. The experiments showed that quebecol was effective in preventing many of these substances from causing inflammation, further concluding that it is a great anti-inflammatory agent.

And like broccoli and bananas, it's a natural source of beneficial antioxidants. Antioxidants have been shown to help prevent cancer, support the immune system, lower blood pressure and slow the effects of aging. Maple syrup is also a better source of some nutrients than apples, eggs or bread.

Did you know that Vermont is the largest producer of pure maple syrup in the U.S.? This is probably the only statistic where our small state can lay claim to being the largest of anything, but one that we take pride in.

Why Canada? Freezing nights and warm days are needed for the maple sap to flow properly, and Eastern North America has the ideal climate. The province of Quebec produces the most maple syrup — a whooping 72 per cent of the world's supply.

However, only Grade A maple syrup is sold to the public and certifies that the maple syrup is obtained by no other method than concentrating maple sap (maple water), that there's no cloudiness in the product, that it's free of fermentation, uniform in colour, free of sediment, that its maple flavour is characteristic ...

A whopping 85% of the world's maple syrup comes from Canada, making it the largest producer in the world.