The sugar in maple syrup is sucrose and invert sugar. White sugar is sucrose, whereas invert sugar is a breakdown product of sucrose. There is no evidence that maple syrup is healthier than white sugar.

Maple syrup is made from the sap of the sugar maple tree. After collecting the sap, it is boiled until it's thick and syrupy. Maple syrup is graded according to color and flavor. Generally, US grades are: Fancy or Grade AA, a light amber colored syrup with a mild flavor; Grade A is medium amber and mellow-flavored; Grade B is dark amber and hearty flavored; and Grade C is very dark with a robust, molasses-like flavor.

Maple sugar is also made from the sap of sugar maple trees. It's about twice as sweet as granulated white sugar.

There are several healthier alternatives that are less well known. Visit a local health food store to inquire about purchasing. Here are some suggestions: Barley Malt, Blackstrap Molasses, Date Butter, Date Sugar, Evaporated Cane Juice (also known as Sucanat), 100% Fruit Juice Concentrate, Honey, and Maple Syrup or Stevia for a sugar substitute. Though these are better choices, all concentrated sugars should be used in moderation.

The overwhelming majority of maple syrup is produced in forests where no herbicides or pesticides have been applied. Therefore, most maple syrup would be considered organic. The requirements are stated by the particular organic certification organization, but generally state no use of substances (for example, fertilizers or pesticides) in the production process that would alter the pure nature of maple syrup.

Yes, most states have county, regional, and state associations. Contact your local Cooperative Extension office if you do not know the local contact.

Maple syrup is produced only in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada, the region in which sugar maple is found. Although maple syrup is not produced in other regions of the world, some other species of maple are tapped. For example, in Korea, people tap a maple species called Acer mono and pipe the sap from the mountains down to the village. They drink the sap but do not boil it to produce syrup.

Retail maple products are not generally labeled but range from 66-67% sugar content for syrup to nearly 100% sugar content for candy. None of the calories come from fat. Syrup: serving size = 4 Tablespoons (60 ml). Calories: 200; total fat 0 g, sodium 7 mg, total carbohydrates 53 g, protein 0 g Maple syrup can be substituted for white sugar in cooking. Use ? cup maple syrup for 1 cup white sugar. Reduce liquid in recipe by 3 Tablespoons for each cup syrup used.

You can purchase equipment from maple equipment dealers such as Waterloo/Small, Leader Evaporator, G.H. Grimm, or Dominion & Grimm. Contact your local Cooperative Extension office for help finding these companies or look them up on the Internet.

Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) is an inherited metabolic disorder that, if untreated, causes mental retardation, physical disabilities and death. First described as a disease in 1954, it is a rare disorder, believed to be in all ethnic groups worldwide. The national incidence is 1 in 225,000 births. MSUD derives its name from the sweet, burnt sugar, or maple syrup smell of the urine. The disorder affects the way the body metabolizes (processes) certain components of protein.

Yes, first dilute the maple syrup with 50% boiling water, and then stir into the beer to raise the gravity by 3 - 4 points (see above). You will probably not notice any difference in flavor with this small amount of maple syrup compared with corn sugar.

The biggest difference between New York and Vermont maple products is the label. Producers in Vermont generally bottle their syrup at a slightly higher sugar content (66.5 Brix) than producers in New York (minimum of 66 Brix although many New York producers go higher). A higher Brix reading gives the syrup a little more viscosity, which consumers generally prefer. Higher sugar content (over 67 Brix) may result in sugar crystals in the syrup.

Maple syrup can be treated with a very small amount of animal fat, butter, or cream to reduce foaming. Most modern producers use synthetic compounds in order to reduce foaming during production. It is typically vegan. Spring Tree, Maple Groves, and Holsum Foods all report that their maple syrups do not use an animal-derived defoaming agent.

Yes, rumours abound about maple syrup containing pork fat. The US vegan society has checked all known sources and found that they are all suitable for vegans. The answer would be that in it's natural form, yes of course it is. However those with environmental concerns should be aware that it takes approx 40 gallons of maple sap to make one gallon of syrup. The method used for reducing the syrup is to boil, boil, boil it for hours until it thickens.

Sugar maple trees generally have sap with higher sugar content and produce better flavored syrup than other maple species. Although no one knows the exact reason for the higher sugar content, scientists suggest it may be related to the structure of the wood. The sugar is stored in the wood.

Genetics and the environment both affect sap sweetness. Some trees have one or more genes that cause sweeter sap. Environmental factors including weather, the site on which the tree is growing, and whether the tree is growing in the open or surrounded by other trees all affect sap sweetness.

Maple syrup can be used in beer, and is generally best in darker styles. Unfortunately, it is very expensive, and you will need to use at least a gallon to get any noticeable flavor in a 5 gallon batch. Add it halfway through the boil, so it boils for at least 30 minutes. When formulating a beer using maple syrup, keep the hopping rate low (under 5-8 AAU's) to give the delicate maple flavor a chance to be tasted.

There is a store which sells real maple syrup (imported from Canada) but it's hard to find. It's located at the international market (Gukchae market) in Nam Po Dong. You may also order from Jeli Deli in Itaewon, Seoul. They have offered to ship to Pusan. For more info contact: Lee Jae Joon at jelldeli@netsgo.com

Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame or acesulfame K are safe, zero-calorie ingredients added to numerous food and drinks. Satisfy sweet cravings using foods and beverages sweetened with artificial sweeteners but do so in moderation. Your brain does not differentiate between real and artificial sweeteners, so if you want to control cravings for sweets, limit the use of artificial sweeteners. Craving sweets is a learned behavior: the more sweets you eat, the more you want and vice-versa.