About Pure Maple Syrup

 

Pure maple syrup has been a Canadian tradition for generations, and its popularity has grown with today's trend toward a healthier, nutritious diet. Pure maple syrup contains fewer calories and a higher concentration of minerals than honey. As one of the wonders of the world, this liquid gold, with its characteristic earthy sweet taste is an excellent alternative to white sugar, brown sugar, honey, molasses, or corn syrup.  It is a natural product with no additives, chemicals, preservatives or coloring agents.

 

Making Maple Terroir Pure Maple Syrup

The process of creating our pure maple syrup begins with tapping (piercing) the tree, which allows the sap to run out freely. In the springtime, when the temperatures warm up, there is water in the trunk and roots. The heat promotes the expansion of this water and creates pressure inside the tree. The sugar maple then transforms starch, built up during the tree’s growth, into sugar.

The switch between cold nights, where temperatures fall below zero, and days where temperatures rise above zero, favours the flow of sap to the tree taps. The sap is collected and transported through our modern and cost effective tubing system and pumped to our sugar house where it is concentrated using reverse osmosis equipment that separates sugar and water molecules.

The clear sap, on average, has a 2 to 3 percent sugar content although some trees can produce up to 6 percent sugar content. The rest is water which must be removed to concentrate the sweetness into syrup. In the old days, this was done by boiling to evaporate the water or freezing (the water rises to the top and freezes while the sweet, concentrated syrup sinks to the bottom). Today's innovations include reverse osmosis for removal of the majority of the water before boiling, but most pure maple syrup is still made by simply boiling the water out by use of an evaporator. The resulting concentrated syrup is filtered to remove impurities and then boiled in our large evaporators to become pure maple syrup. It takes approximately 36 gallons of maple tree sap to make 1 gallon of maple syrup!

Other products made from pure maple syrup include maple sugar, maple honey (thicker than syrup), and maple cream (almost as thick as peanut butter) or maple butter (thick and spreadable).

 

 

First Tap – Maple Terroir’s One-of-a-Kind Pure Maple Syrup

Maple Terroir is proud to introduce First Tap. The initial piercing or "First Tap" of the tree allows the sap to run freely and is then collected. This concentrated sap is immediately boiled in our large evaporators, bottled and then labeled - all in the first day of the maple crop season.

Each bottle receives its own number from the total limited amount that is collected on that first day to show its authenticity. "First Tap" Maple Syrup can only be Grade A Golden Color, Delicate Taste.

 

Nutrition and Science of Maple Syrup

Maple syrup contains significant quantities of zinc, iron, potassium, calcium and magnesium and compounds found in B Complex vitamins mostly thiamine. Also, 60 milliliters of maple syrup (1/4 cup) provide 100% of the daily recommended intake in manganese, 37% of the intake in riboflavin and 18% of the intake in zinc. But that’s not all! Recent studies report that sap contains polyphenolic compounds (phenolic and flavonoid acids) that have important antioxidant and organoleptic properties.

For example, the key oxidative, which disarms free radicals requires manganese. 60ml of pure maple syrup supplies 100% of the daily value for this very important trace mineral. Pure maple syrup is a good sweetener to use if you are trying to protect the health of your heart. The zinc supplied by pure maple syrup, in addition to acting as an antioxidant, has other functions that can decrease the progression of atherosclerosis.

Additionally, studies have found that in adults deficient in manganese, the other trace mineral amply supplied in pure maple syrup, the level of HDL (the good cholesterol) is decreased. Zinc and manganese are also important allies in the immune system. Many types of immune cells appear to depend upon zinc for optional function. Particularly in children, researchers have studied the effects of zinc deficiency (and zinc supplementation) on their immune response and their number of white blood cells. In addition to the role played by zinc, the manganese in pure maple syrup is important since, as a component of the antioxidant SOD, it helps lessen inflammation, thus supporting healing.

Pure maple syrup may also help to support reproductive health and provide special benefits for men. Zinc is concentrated more highly in the prostate than in any other human tissue, and low levels of zinc in this gland relate to a higher risk for prostate cancer. In fact, zinc is a mineral used therapeutically by healthcare practitioners to help reduce prostate size. Manganese may also play a role in supporting men's health since, as a catalyst in the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol, it also participates in the production of sex hormones, thus helping to maintain reproductive health.

 

Organic Pure Maple Syrup

Today, when you buy our products which are certified organic by Ecocert Canada, we guarantee that production and marketing rules and regulations for organic agricultural products have been respected throughout the entire manufacturing process.

The maple farm and bottling plant are inspected annually and must meet strict guidelines for organic certification (no pesticides, organic farming practices and use only regulated cleaners).

We also take the following measures:

• Certified by QAI (Quality Assurance International).
• Limited number of tapholes per tree. No over-tapping. No germicides (Para formaldehyde) in tapholes.
• Selective and correct use of vacuum tubing (the lines are cleaned with natural, biodegradable products).
• No synthetic chemical products are used to control foam during boiling. A certified organic vegetable anti-    foaming agent is used.
• All labeling must be approved by QAI.
• All syrup is batch coded for organic audit control.

Active since 1995, we are firmly established in Quebec and operate in all provinces in Canada. The competence and rigour of controls carried out by our organization are recognized in the context of our accreditation according to ISO Guide 65 standards, issued by the CAAQ.

Our partnership with Ecocert SA, a control organization working in Europe for over 27 years and operating in over 80 countries, gives us access to all markets. Ecocert Canada, as a certification organization, promises to:

* Verify that production standards are respected through its annual visits and unannounced visits.

* Deliver a certificate attesting to the conformity of each product produced with organic production methods after a control is completed.

* Offer rapid and quality service that allows for access to various targeted markets.

Maple Terroir Fine Products produces quality products that are Certified Organic by Quality Assurance International, & HACCP Certified for Quality Control.

 

 

Grading of Pure Maple Syrup

Grade A Golden Color, Delicate Taste Maple Syrup:

This smooth flavor is one of the most delicate of all the maple syrup grades. Made earlier in the season during colder climates, this smooth maple flavor is ideal for maple cream and maple candies.

Grade A Amber Color, Rich Taste Maple Syrup:

This syrup is slightly darker than the Golden Delicate and is known for its smooth maple flavor. This distinctive taste is produced mid-season when the temperatures start to warm.

Grade A Dark Color, Robust Taste Maple Syrup:

As the days become warmer and longer in sugaring season, we produce this full-bodied maple syrup grade. Both the color and the maple flavor are a bit stronger and more intense than the Amber, Rich. The sugar content of the saps has dropped by now so it takes more gallons of sap to make a gallon of syrup, hence the darker color and stronger flavors. This versatile grade is great as a topping and for cooking. Its strong maple flavor also lends itself to meat glazes, cooking recipes, and atop of waffles, pancakes, or oatmeal.

Grade A Very Dark Color, Strong Taste Maple Syrup:

Typically used for cooking purposes, this is the strongest maple syrup flavor.

Processing Grade Maple Syrup:

Used primarily as a commercial ingredient, this dark syrup presents a strong maple flavor. This maple syrup grade is very popular among food manufacturers. Produced last in the sugaring season, this maple syrup is exceptionally robust. Its intense maple flavor is perfect for baking, and many food brands and chefs rely on this specific grade for recipes. The processing grade of maple syrup is suitable as an ingredient in food products, but is not permitted for retail sale. While it doesn’t meet Grade A requirements, it does meet all other maple regulations and food quality/safety guidelines.