health
I tested maple syrups from Aldi, Sainsbury’s and more against Buckwud
Maple syrup is a luxurious ingredient, delicious drizzled on pancakes, incorporated into bakes and desserts, or poured over ice cream. In my household, it's a staple, often replacing refined sugar in cakes and desserts. However, maple syrup can be expensive, and it's often difficult to tell whether what you're buying is genuine or an imitation.
TL;DR
- Five maple syrups were tested: Buckwud, Aldi, Maple Crest, Sainsbury's, and Co-op.
- Real maple syrup is made from 100% pure maple sap; imitations contain added ingredients.
- Grade A maple syrup meets USDA standards for solids, color, flavor, and aroma.
- Grade A syrups are categorized into four color grades: Golden, Amber, Dark, and Very Dark, with distinct flavor profiles.
- Buckwud Organic Intense Canadian Maple Syrup won for its rich, intense dark maple flavor, priced at £6.20 for 250g.
- Aldi Specially Selected 100% Pure Canadian Maple Syrup offered the best value at £3.99 for 330g, praised for its pleasant flavor and large size.
- Maple Crest syrup was rated 3.5/5, noted for being less intense than Buckwud and having a less robust flavor.
- Sainsbury's Taste the Difference amber maple syrup scored 3/5, offering a solid flavor but considered pricey for a supermarket brand.
- Co-op Pure Canadian Maple Syrup received the lowest score of 2.5/5, described as unremarkable with a weak maple flavor and expensive for its quality.