4 ms·
No wonder I'm paying through the nose for maple syrup. Did not know the full history behind it. Another maple syrup fact I recently learned: there's no quality
by nathancahill 11y ago
No wonder I'm paying through the nose for maple syrup. Did not know the full history behind it.
Another maple syrup fact I recently learned: there's no quality difference between Grade A and Grade B syrup. It's just based on color. I prefer the darker, stronger flavored Grade B.
- mc32 11y agoI also prefer the Grade B; I only wish it were cheaper too, but it's not, at least not where I live.
- QuercusMax 11y agoYou used to be able to buy Grade C. That stuff was awesome. Super flavorful - went great with buckwheat pancakes.
- nkurz 11y agoAt least in the US, the names Grade B and Grade C have already been phased out. Some states had done so earlier, but the USDA officially renamed them earlier this year to wordy variants of Grade A. So if you are looking for Grade B, you now want "GRADE A: DARK COLOR & ROBUST", and if you were so ahead of the game that you wanted Grade C, you now want the eloquently named "GRADE A: VERY DARK & STRONG". [1] http://www.epicurious.com/ingredients/grade-b-maple-syrup-buying-guide-article http://www.epicurious.com/ingredients/grade-b-maple-syrup-bu...
- dbbolton 11y agoThis is an accurate description of the legal US grading system as of March 2, 2015 (under 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627). For anyone interested, here's a link to the official USDA guidelines (grading is §52.5962 on page no. 2, which is actually page 4 of the PDF): http://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/MapleSyrupStandards.pdf http://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/MapleSyrup...
- zmk_ 11y agoGrades correspond to during which period of the cycle the syrup was obtained; not to quality.
- hammock 11y agoIt absolutely differs in quality. Not as in "degree of excellence" (second definition), but as in character or inherent features (first definition). The early American colonists sought out grade A because it was a more suitable cooking substitute for cane sugar, which for a time was difficult to get. Grade B is more mapley in flavor and might be preferred today for its use on pancakes.
- nathancahill 11y agoEnglish is a funny language isn't it? From the context, it's obvious I meant "degree of excellence" though.