Buckwud Organic Intense Canadian Maple Syrup came out on top in a taste test of five maple syrups, beating own-label products from Sainsbury's, Aldi, and Co-op. The test, conducted by Millie Bull, Deputy Editor of Spare Time, judged each syrup on taste, cost, and packaging.
How the syrups were tested
Bull sampled each syrup straight from the bottle with a small spoonful. The products tested were Buckwud Organic Intense Canadian Maple Syrup, Aldi Specially Selected 100% Pure Canadian Maple Syrup, Maple Crest Maple Syrup, Sainsbury's Canadian Maple Syrup Taste the Difference, and Co-op Pure Canadian Maple Syrup.
Before tasting, Bull explained how to identify authentic maple syrup. Genuine maple syrup lists just one ingredient: 100% pure maple syrup or maple sap. Any extra ingredients, such as corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, water, or carob syrup, indicate that the product is an imitation. Some bottles are labelled 'maple-flavoured syrup', which means they contain maple flavouring rather than actual maple syrup.
What Grade A maple syrup means
The Grade A label, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), means the syrup contains no more than 68.9% solids by weight, has a consistent colour, taste and smell of maple, and is free from off-flavours, odours, cloudiness, or sediment. Grade A covers four colour categories: Golden, Amber, Dark, and Very Dark, as outlined by Maple From Canada.
Golden maple syrup, harvested early in the season, is light and mild. Amber syrup, gathered mid-season, has a fuller flavour and is the most widely available variety in UK stores. Dark maple syrup, collected later in the season, has a stronger flavour, and very dark maple syrup, harvested at the end of the season, is thick and intense. Most of the syrups found in local supermarkets were Grade A amber.
The results
Buckwud Organic Intense Canadian Maple Syrup, £6.20 for 250g (£2.48 per 100g) from Sainsbury's, was the only dark syrup in the test. It had a deeper, caramel-like taste that worked well both on its own and over pancakes, with a stronger, less sweet maple flavour. It also won a 3-star award at the Great Taste Awards in 2022. Score: 5/5.
Aldi Specially Selected 100% Pure Canadian Maple Syrup, £3.99 for 330g (£1.60 per 100ml), was the largest and cheapest of the five. It had a decent maple flavour with a hint of toffee and wasn't overly sweet. Score: 4/5.
Maple Crest Maple Syrup, £4 for 250g (£1.60 per 100g) from Sainsbury's, had a flavour similar to Buckwud's but milder, and the screw-top cap was awkward to use. The Sainsbury's website describes it as "expertly harvested late in the season," suggesting it may be dark. Score: 3.5/5.
Sainsbury's Canadian Maple Syrup Taste the Difference, £5.20 for 250g (£2.08 per 100g), smelled good and had a solid maple flavour without being too sweet, though the price was on the high side for a supermarket own-brand. Score: 3/5.
Co-op Pure Canadian Maple Syrup, £5.25 for 250g (£2.10 per 100g), was the least favourite, with a maple flavour that wasn't strong enough and an irritating screw-top lid. Score: 2.5/5.
The verdict
Buckwud had the best flavour of the five, especially for those who like a deep, caramel-edged taste with a strong maple character. Among the own-label options, Aldi's maple syrup came out on top, offering the best value for money.
