Ever wonder what the color indicates about the flavor of pure maple syrup? Read on to learn the ins and outs of the USDA maple syrup grading system.
Golden Maple Syrup: Pure maple syrup in this class has a light to more pronounced golden color and a delicate or mild taste. It is the product of choice for consumers preferring a lighter colored maple syrup with a delicate or mild taste.
Amber Maple Syrup: Pure maple syrup in this class has a light amber color and a rich or full-bodied taste. It is the product of choice for customers preferring a full-bodied tasting syrup of medium taste intensity.
Dark Maple Syrup: Pure maple syrup in this class has a dark color and a more robust or stronger taste than syrup in lighter color classes. It is the product of choice for consumers preferring a dark colored syrup with substantial or robust taste.
Very Dark Maple Syrup: Pure maple syrup in this class has a very strong taste. It is generally recommended for cooking purposes but some consumers may prefer it for table use.
Information obtained from the USDA Standards for Grades of Maple Syrup and the International Maple Syrup Institute.