Beware of imitations! You'll find many imitation or maple-flavored products on the market, but the real thing is worth the higher price tag. By definition, pure maple syrup is syrup made by the evaporation of maple sap or by the solution of maple sugar, and contains not more than approximately 33-35% water. Imitation maple syrup, usually sold as pancake syrup, must be labeled and generally is made of mostly corn syrup with 2 or 3% of pure maple syrup. Some imitations may contain only artificial maple extract. Pure maple syrup is three times as sweet as regular table sugar, whereas maple sugar is twice as sweet.
