Maple Grove Farms Organics Grade A Maple Syrup Review

I brought home an 8.5-ounce bottle of Maple Grove Farms Organics Grade A Dark Amber Pure Organic Maple Syrup last week for review. Often I can taste little difference between the organic and non organic versions of a food product. However, this pure organic maple syrup from Canada and the USA tastes and smells significantly better in my view, than its non organic counterpart.

Real maple syrup in general is a nutricious alternative to table sugar and corn syrup-based sweetener products, as it supplies the unique maple flavor that makes genuine maple syrup so worth the extra expense over the man-made varieties of maple-flavored corn syrup.

The Maple Grove Farms Organics dark amber grade A maple syrup has 50 calories per tablespoon, and appears to equal honey and agave nectar in terms of sweetness. However, I’d suggest that you not use maple syrup in place of these other sweeteners, as it’s flavor interacts differently with the foods you put it on. Thus, the resulting flavors may not be what you expected or wanted. This is particularly true of this organic pure maple syrup, as its maple flavor seems stronger on the tongue than the Maple Grove Farms non organic but genuine maple syrup.

Pure maple syrup, though it consists of almost pure sugar, also has some vitamins and minerals, as it us typically unbleached, thus preserving the natural compounds within that come from the maple tree.

Benefits, Pros, Advantages, and Features

Maple Grove Farms Organics pure maple syrup dissolves completely and quickly in hot drinks. It’s easier to dissolve than honey.
It has a stronger maple flavor than other pure maple syrups I’ve tested; at first, I thought I had grabbed a bottle of grade B, as this flavor is so much stronger than the other grade A varieties I’d been used to.
This version of pure maple syrup requires just one stirring into foods and beverages, as it does not tend to separate after it’s completely dissolved.
The Maple Grove Farms Organics brand of dark amber grade A organic syrup impresses the palate as a moderate-strength maple flavor, and has a pronounced maple aroma; not a strong scent (but stronger than the non organic product), just a definite and pleasant one. However, this maple syrup appears darker than than the Great Value brand of pure maple syrup (reviewed earlier), and has a stronger flavor (though not sweeter, but also more uniquely maple and thus, natural-tasting).
A pure maple syrup lover since I first learned about it nearly a decade ago, I’m pleased that through products such as this offering from the Maple Grove Farms Organics brand, all-natural maple syrup has certainly moved into widespread distribution and sale here in North America. That’s been true for decades, although they still do not move as much of this as the corn-syrup-based, artificially-flavored syrups yet, perhaps due to the significant added costs of producing organic pure maple syrup from the maple tree sap.
Nonetheless, I’ve found this Maple Grove Farms organic maple syrup easy to find in the bigger local grocery stores. So one usually needs not to travel to a designated health food store just to find it. Most stores here have Maple Grove Farms syrup these days; though fewer carry the Organics line. But you can still find it if determined.
I’ve never suffered any intestinal or stomach difficulties from this great-tasting grade A dark amber organic maple syrup.
This Maple Grove Farms syrup indeed has a syrupy feel to it, but significantly thinner than honey. In fact, all-natural maple syrup tends to flow more freely (thinner) than the imitation varieties.
They package this product in a genuine glass bottle, albeit a small one; no doubt to minimize leeching of compounds in plastic into the maple syrup, which can destroy the so-delicate natural maple flavor.
Maple Grove Farms Organics grade A pure maple syrup is clear and indeed, dark amber in color; a bit darker than both honey and agave nectar, though its color closely matches the Maple Grove Farms non organic pure maple syrup. Thus, this syrup can darken the colors of foods or drinks you put it in.
When the food pundits discuss the classic taste of pancakes and pure maple syrup, they must have the Maple Grove Farms Organics brand in mind.

Disadvantages, Cons, Problems, and Concerns

To adequately sweeten tea, I must use three to four tablespoons of this product; unlike the liquid stevia products I use that require far less than one tablespoon. This can further raise the cost of pure maple syrup as a tea sweetener and add lots of calories as well. However, this is a fact of all maple syrups I’ve tried, and so, is not endemic to the Maple Grove Farms Organics brand of maple syrup.
Organic maple syrup costs slightly more currently than non organic maple syrup, but not much. I paid $5.18 for my 8.5-ounce bottle. That’s 61 cents per ounce where as the non organic version of the Maple Grove Farms syrup is $7.42 for 12.5 ounces, or 59 cents per ounce. But the improvement in flavor of the organic version is well worth the extra cents per bottle I’d say.
If spilled, any maple syrup, natural or not, organic or not, can draw bugs, just as spilled sugar or sugary syrup might. As you’d do with sugar, take care during clean-up not to leave any sticky syrup behind that could attract ants and roaches. It’s easy to clean and quite water-soluble. So a wet dish rag effectively removes spills. The darkness of this organic maple syrup makes it less difficult to spot when spilled on counters and tables.
Maple Grove Farms Organics pure maple syrup indeed costs more than sugar per pound. But I’m pleased that the Maple Grove Farms Organics brand of dark amber maple syrup has become so widely available.

Product Rating

I like Maple Grove Farms Organics Grade A Dark Amber Pure Organic Maple Syrup. But go easy on consuming this syrup, because though it may be healthier than sugar, it still contains as much sugar as regular agave nectar and honey. Enjoying this product in moderation therefore, is likely the healthiest way to please yourself with it. Still though, if you must consume calories to experience great maple flavor in food, then this pure organic maple syrup from Maple Grove Farms is among the healthiest, most nutritious sources of sweetness per calorie that I’ve ever encountered. So I’d rate this syrup product at 90 out of 100.

Where To Buy Maple Grove Farms Organics Grade A Dark Amber Pure Organic Maple Syrup

Look for the clear glass bottle with the white label that is capped with a black lid at your favorite larger grocers. You’ll likely concur that you need sacrifice no uniquely wonderful maple flavor to gain the health benefits of organic maple syrup found in this product.

References

Revision History

2015-01-27: Moved this post to the Tom’s Diet Quest blog, and tweaked the content. Adjusted ad placement, added whitespace, and extended the References section.
2012-03-31: Originally published.