Though today’s maple syrups vary dramatically in intensity, complexity and taste, they’re all of decent quality and have that classic and unmistakable flavour. I avoided blended or maple-flavoured syrups for this test, and instead tried only 100% pure, grade-A maple syrups, using Agriculture Canada’s flavour wheel and four-step tasting process as a guide. I poured a small shot into a glass to observe the colour. Then I followed the tasting process: I smelled the syrup with three quick sniffs, took a small sip and swirled it around my mouth before contemplating the flavours. Step four is to assess the flavour intensity. Alongside appearance, aroma, texture and taste, I awarded extra points for specific provenance and organic certifications, as well as for value.
Prices vary greatly, and although the dearest bottles taste divine, so do the cheapest. Each pure maple syrup is unique in flavour, with nuanced notes from mild clove tones to intense, woody and almost menthol-like piney flavours. Like wine, maple syrup has the tang of its terroir: it’s an artisanal product that tastes of the land.
The best supermarket maple syrup
Best overall:
Maple Shack maple syrup
★★★★☆
A deep mahogany colour, and noticeably sweet on the nose, with complex forest notes and a hint of roast chicory smokiness. Medium viscosity, with a pure, intense, caramelised toffee flavour and a lingering sweetness. Sourced from the “top 200 maple farms” in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec.
Best bargain:
Waitrose No 1 Canadian amber maple syrup
★★★★☆
Tapped early in the season, this has a classic light amber colour and an intense, sweet-caramel aroma with a subtle floral acidity. Thick and viscous, with a mild intensity, a buttery and balanced flavour, and a hint of cinnamon.
And the rest …
M&S Collection Canadian maple syrup
★★★★☆
Light amber with a beautiful copper-red tone and a hint of molasses and honeyed acidity on the nose. Deeply caramelised with notes of brown butter, toffee and woody undertones. Medium-strong intensity, finishing on a high acidity.
Asda Exceptional Canadian amber maple syrup
★★★★☆
A deep ochre colour and an intense, sweet butterscotch aroma. Medium viscosity. A deep, complex, umami flavour with notes of brown sugar, butterscotch and vanilla and, for an amber, a bold character.
Buckwud organic classic Canadian maple syrup
★★★★☆
A mahogany amber-red, and an earthy, rounded aroma with classic notes of wet wood and maple. Medium viscosity. Wonderfully balanced, and with a lighter acidity than most, giving it higher flavour notes of caramel, toffee and firewood, with a nice, light butterscotch. Two Great Taste stars in 2023. Soil Association organic-certified.
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Biona organic pure amber maple syrup
★★★★☆
A deep amber-sienna colour, with a mild aroma, medium body and a subtle, low-intensity flavour of butterscotch with a hint of pine. Delicate, with a woody, creamy, butterscotch taste. From Quebec’s Bas-Saint-Laurent region, and certified organic by the Organic Food Federation.
Tesco Finest amber maple syrup
★★★☆☆
A burnt sienna colour, darker than most. A very simple, mild aroma, and full-bodied viscosity. Very sweet, woody and earthy, with a subdued fudge flavour and a note of toasted grain. Well-balanced, and mild in intensity.
Aldi Specially Selected Canadian maple syrup
★★★☆☆
A whisky-coloured syrup, with a very sweet but grounding, earthy rye aroma. Candied on the tongue, light and viscous, with a butterscotch flavour and a hint of vanilla. Mild, yet full of flavour.
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Canadian maple syrup
★★★☆☆
A classic, amber-yellow bourbon colour, with a distinct, sweet marshmallow-vanilla aroma. Thick viscosity, with a balanced caramel flavour and hints of acidity, toast and leafy earthiness. Medium intensity.
Co-op pure Canadian maple syrup
★★★☆☆
A light mahogany colour, and a subtle, sweet and mildly woody aroma. Medium viscosity. A sweet, well-rounded syrup, medium intensity with a balanced, earthy flavour of dandelion root and a classic maple-caramel taste. Intriguingly plain packaging, too.
