Anderson’s, Maple Grove Farms, Kroger Private Selection, Trader Joe’s, and Kroger Simple Truth Organic maple syrups. Paige Bennett I tried store-bought maple syrup from five brands to see which provided the best taste and value. My least favorite of the bunch was from Kroger, and I wasn’t completely wowed by Trader Joe’s.
Anderson’s was a clear winner, even though it was pricier than some of the store brands. Maple syrup is a total staple in my house. I’m a big fan of maple syrup.
Paige BennettI almost always keep a bottle of real maple syrup in my kitchen for breakfast or baking purposes. I usually just buy whichever option is cheapest rather than looking into where the syrup is sourced from. But after testing different brands of pancake syrup and finding that splurging a little more on the big brands was worth the cost, I decided to give real maple syrups the same treatment.
I started with Anderson’s, which proudly proclaimed it was made in the US. Anderson’s maple syrup. Paige BennettThe label of Anderson’s maple syrup said it was certified organic and “Made in the USA” (the product is manufactured in Wisconsin).
My first observation was that this syrup had a handy, easy-pour lid that made it stand out from the others, which just had open tops. The 8-ounce bottle cost $7. 49, or $0.
94 an ounce. I loved the balance of sweetness and earthiness in the syrup. Anderson’s maple syrup had a nice flavor.
Paige BennettAnderson’s US Grade A syrup was one of the darkest of the batch, with a rich, reddish color. According to the bottle, it’s a “dark color” syrup. Darker syrups apparently tend to have a more robust maple flavor.
Lighter-colored syrups usually have more sucrose and a milder maple flavor. Anderson’s dark syrup had an amazing flavor. It was sweet, but not overly so, and it had some earthiness to balance everything out.
There also wasn’t any sort of unpleasant aftertaste. As for texture, it had a medium consistency that was neither super runny nor very thick. The Maple Grove Farms syrup was lighter in color.
Maple Grove Farm maple syrup. Paige BennettThe Maple Grove Farms Grade A syrup is an amber color, which was noticeably lighter. The front of the bottle said it was a non-GMO product, and the back also said “Product of USA and Canada.
“It was the most expensive syrup I tested at $13. 49 for an over 12-ounce bottle, or $1. 12 an ounce.
The lighter syrup unsurprisingly had a milder maple flavor. The Maple Grove Farm syrup wasn’t as flavorful. Paige BennettAfter learning the differences between lighter and darker maple syrups, I wasn’t surprised by the very subtle flavor.
It was sweet, but not overwhelmingly so. I think I’d make a perfect for topping a fancy French toast or a similar dish where you wouldn’t want a super sweet syrup to be the overpowering flavor. I noticed a somewhat rich aftertaste, but overall, Maple Grove Farms’ syrup was very light on flavor.
The Private Selection syrup from Kroger was the only one without an organic or non-GMO label. Private Selection maple syrup from Kroger. Paige BennettKroger’s Private Selection maple syrup had a pretty nondescript label.
It didn’t have any added organic certifications, and the packaging just said that the syrup was sourced from North American maple trees, rather than listing any specific locations. This product rang up at $6. 70 for a 10-ounce bottle, or $0.
67 an ounce. I liked this syrup the least of the bunch. I didn’t like the flavor of Kroger’s Private Selection maple syrup.
Paige BennettThe Private Selection Grade A syrup was a lighter amber color, but it wasn’t as light as the Maple Grove Farms product. The consistency was also noticeably thin. I thought this syrup had an overly earthy flavor and an almost bitter aftertaste.
It’s hard to describe, but it wasn’t very pleasant. It was one of the cheaper bottles though. If you’re looking for an affordable product that’s still real maple syrup instead of pancake syrup, this could do in a pinch.
The Trader Joe’s maple syrup I found was sourced from Vermont. Vermont maple syrup from Trader Joe’s. Paige BennettTrader Joe’s Vermont maple syrup was the cheapest I tested at $4.
99 for an 8-ounce bottle, or $0. 62 an ounce. The label made it clear this product was sourced from Vermont.
It also said it was organic, US Grade A, and a dark color. The flavor was both sweet and earthy, but I didn’t love the aftertaste. Trader Joe’s maple syrup was good, but not perfect.
Paige BennettAs the bottle said, the syrup was quite dark in color, and it had a medium consistency. I thought the initial flavor was pretty similar to Anderson’s, with that lovely balance between sweetness and earthiness. But it left a bit of an almost bitter aftertaste, like the Private Selection syrup.
It wouldn’t keep me from buying it again, since it’s such a great price, but Trader Joe’s didn’t end up being my top choice. The Simple Truth Organic syrup was a pretty standard bottle. Simple Truth Organic maple syrup from Kroger.
Paige BennetKroger’s Grade A dark syrup from its organic store brand had a non-GMO label. But the bottle didn’t specify where the maple syrup was sourced from. The 8-ounce bottle was midrange in price at $5.
99, or $0. 75 an ounce. The syrup was fine but didn’t have any standout qualities.
I wasn’t wowed by the second Kroger brand. Paige BennettThe Simple Truth Organic syrup was very dark in color with a medium consistency. As for flavor, it was just fine — pretty sweet with a slightly bitter aftertaste that I didn’t like.
Even though it was a nice cheap bottle, I don’t think it was as good as the cheapest syrup from Trader Joe’s. Ultimately, I loved Anderson’s syrup the most. Anderson’s maple syrup was the clear winner.
Paige BennettFrom the unique lid for easy pouring to the amazing flavor, Anderson’s maple syrup was my favorite. I also loved that it didn’t leave behind a strong aftertaste. It cost a little more, but it wasn’t the most expensive option.
I’d follow Anderson’s with Maple Grove Farms for its more subtle flavor and lack of aftertaste. I also didn’t mind Trader Joe’s Vermont syrup, especially because it was such a good value. Read the original article on Insider.
From: insider
URL: https://www.insider.com/which-maple-syrup-should-you-buy-from-grocery-store
