Typically made at the end of the maple sugaring season and once shunned as not good enough to serve as table syrup, the darkest of syrups has grown in popularity due to its strong maple flavor and high mineral content.
Very Dark & Strong Maple Syrup
Prior to 2015, selling this darkest grade of maple syrup as "table syrup" was not permitted. Fortunately, the international community realized that the darkest syrup is quite tasty and retail sales were permitted. Very Dark & Strong syrup has proven to be quite popular for good reason. When you are looking for a mineral rich syrup or just need that extra punch of maple flavor, this is the one for you.
I often see Very Dark & Strong called "the old Grade B". This can be confusing for folks that remember the grading system prior to 2015 and preferred the darker Grade B. Let me set the record straight: Very Dark & Strong syrup was formally known as "Commercial" in the US and as "Grade 3" in Canada; it is not Grade B!
This chart shows how the grades line up:
The grading scales are based on light transmittance, or how dark the syrup is. The old Commercial syrup had a light transmittance of less than 27%. This aligns with the modern Very Dark & Strong that has a light transmittance of less than 25%.
The old Grade B had a light transmittance of 27% to 44%. This aligns with the Dark & Robust grade which is 25% to 50%. So if you want "Grade B" syrup, go for "Dark & Robust".
Click here to see the official regulations from 1990. (then scroll down to page 5)
Maple Syrup for Health and Master Cleanse
The latest study showing the health benefits of maple syrup was released in May 2023. The findings clearly showed health benefits when two tablespoons of maple syrup were used to replace two tablespoons of sucrose syrup in a daily diet. Check out the full report here.
- improved blood sugar levels
- reduction in blood pressure
- less belly fat
Darker syrups are known for having higher mineral contents as well as higher levels of phenols that act as anti-oxidants and have cancer fighting properties. For anyone planning a master cleanse, we recommend Very Dark maple syrup. You will get better health benefits and enjoy stronger maple flavors.
Sampling Very Dark & Strong Maple Syrup
We like to offer samples of many different syrups and ask folks which they prefer. Only about 10% of people pick the Very Dark & Strong maple syrup as their favorite. But I take this with a grain of salt.
It's true that the darkest maple syrups don't rank as well when sipped side-by-side with the lighter syrups. The Very Dark & Strong is exactly that - strong. People may not want that poured over their vanilla ice cream; however, if I were serving samples of pie, the ones flavored with Very Dark would most certainly be the favorites.
Natural Maple Flavor vs. Real Maple Flavor
I saw this advertisement recently: "Not getting the flavor you want by using maple syrup in your baking? Add strong maple taste instantly with just a few drops of this true maple flavor." As a Maple Farmer, I take issue with the suggested use of "natural maple flavor" in addition to maple syrup.
This sort of "maple flavor" is generally derived from Fenugreek seeds. While the seeds may taste similar to maple syrup, they certainly aren't grown in Vermont or derived from maple trees. I'll admit that I haven't tried the stuff myself. Maybe some day.
Rather than using the natural maple flavor, I have a better option: use Very Dark & Strong maple syrup! Why start with a light syrup and add "flavorings" when you could just start with the stronger flavored maple syrup?!
Sipping a flight of maple syrup samples doesn't do the Very Dark & Strong syrup any favors. But when used as a baking ingredient, the stronger maple flavors are often preferred. The overlooked Very Dark & Strong maple syrup certainly has its place in every kitchen. Try some the next time you are baking. You might be surprised!
Click here to learn more about the different grades of Vermont maple syrup.