How To Evaluate The Quality Of Maple Syrup
An often underrated ingredient in the kitchen is maple syrup. Frequently used as a more natural sweetener in place of refined sugars, maple syrup adds a more earthy, rich flavor profile to dishes. If you've decided that it's time to make space in your commercial kitchen for maple syrup to incorporate into recipes, it's important that you know what you're looking for as you evaluate suppliers. Here are some tips to help you get the right maple syrup for your needs.
Consider The Color
Quality maple syrup shouldn't be cloudy at all. Cloudy maple syrup is an indication of the presence of impurities in the syrup. That can affect the shelf life, flavor, and overall quality of the syrup, so it's best avoided.
When you look at samples from any maple syrup supplier, the syrup itself should be a clear amber color. The darkness of the syrup will depend largely on the processing, the area where the maple sap was gathered, and the grade of the syrup, but it can range from very dark amber to shades light enough that you can almost see straight through it. Typically, the flavor is richer and deeper in the dark maple syrups.
Test The Consistency
Another feature that varies widely from one maple syrup product to the next is the consistency of the syrup itself. Look for a maple syrup product that is on the thicker side when you pour. Thin, runny syrups will typically taste more sugary instead of the rich maple undertones that you want from the syrup.
The consistency largely depends on how long the syrup was boiled down. The longer the boiling process, the more concentrated the flavors and the thicker the syrup. You don't want something that's so thick it comes out in globs, but it should be thick enough to have some body to it.
Evaluate The Flavor
The final stage of your maple syrup selection process should be a taste test. After all, it doesn't matter how aesthetically perfect the syrup might be if it doesn't taste good. A quality maple syrup product will taste sweet, but the sweetness shouldn't be overwhelming. There should be a balance in flavor between the sweetness and the rich maple.
These are some of the key considerations when you're choosing a supplier for your kitchen's maple syrup. Check out some of the products available near you to find the one that's the best quality.
Contact a local maple syrup supplier to learn more.