Maple syrup represents useful product(see photo) obtained from natural sap of red, black or sugar maple. Currently, they are actively replacing sugar, since this syrup tastes very sweet. It also has an amber color and a thick transparent consistency. This is why processed maple sap is very similar to bee honey. Despite the fact that the homeland maple syrup is North America, it is appreciated all over the world.
Receive this type syrup by evaporating natural maple sap, which is usually extracted in early spring. At this time of year, sap collectors make holes in maple trees. Tubes are inserted into them, through which maple liquid gradually passes into a pre-prepared container. The extracted juice is then sent for processing, during which it is evaporated until the syrup becomes thick. Maple sap is eighty percent water and usually takes at least two hours to evaporate. Forty liters of maple sap can yield only one liter of amber syrup. However, given that maple trees are not damaged when collecting maple liquid, it is possible to extract raw materials for making syrup from one trunk annually.
How to choose and store maple syrup correctly?
Not many people know how to properly select and store maple syrup. We suggest you figure out right now how to distinguish real maple syrup from imitation.
The first thing you should always pay attention to is the consistency of the maple syrup. The liquid must only be transparent or translucent. If the liquid is cloudy, the product is not worth buying. In addition, you must always look at the label of the container that contains the syrup. It must indicate the country supplying the product, as well as the name of the manufacturing company. There should also be a presence on the container with syrup. Maple Leaf golden color. This is a Canadian seal that certifies the authenticity of maple syrup.
In addition, real syrup obtained from natural maple sap will never be cheap. As mentioned earlier, from forty liters of maple sap only one liter of syrup can be obtained. This explains the high cost of this product. It is also worth paying attention to the fact that the taste of real maple syrup must have a light woody note. If the product is simply sweet, then it is probably a fake, made from artificial maple essence and corn syrup.
You can store maple syrup either in the refrigerator or at room temperature. In the latter case, the product must be kept exclusively in a hermetically sealed container. After unpacking, it is recommended to pour the maple syrup into a glass or plastic container and place it in a cool room for storage. If all conditions are met, the shelf life of this product can reach three years.
How to cook with your own hands at home?
To make your own maple syrup at home, you will need to be patient in advance. The process of preparing this product is quite long, and that is why, first of all, it requires patience. The first step is to extract natural maple sap. To do this, you need to wait until spring arrives to look for a large and healthy maple. It is not recommended to extract sap from sick trees, as well as from those trees on which buds have begun to bloom. After the maple trunk is selected, small cuts are made in it, the depth of which should not be more than eight centimeters. Special iron spouts are inserted into the drilled places, and tubes are inserted into them. From one hole in a maple tree you can collect up to three liters of sap in one day.
Collected raw materials must be sent immediately for processing. First, the juice must be filtered, since it may contain remnants of bark or other debris. Then the product is poured into a wide container with non-stick coating and put on fire to evaporate. This usually takes several hours. Note! If you evaporate homemade syrup for a long time, it will turn out too thick and in the future it will simply become sugary. If the product is made too rare, it will have a short shelf life. In addition, it is recommended to boil the juice outside, since during the boiling process sweet steam evaporates, which subsequently settles on objects in the room and makes them sticky. The finished syrup cools slightly, is distributed into jars and sealed tightly.
Application
The use of maple syrup is widespread in America and Canada. In these parts of the world, processed maple sap is very often used for culinary and cosmetic purposes. There are many ways to use this product, and you will learn about them right now!
In cooking
Maple syrup is used very widely in cooking. Its sweet taste and pleasant smell are in perfect harmony with baked goods, fruits, meat and even fish. That is why there are many different dishes that include this versatile product. If you don't know how to use maple syrup for culinary purposes, be sure to take a look at the table below. It offers very tasty and at the same time incredible simple recipes using this product.
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Name |
Ingredients |
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apples baked with maple syrup |
Six apples, six tablespoons each of raisins and ground walnuts, a pinch of crushed cinnamon, one glass of water and half a glass of maple syrup. |
To begin with, the fruit is washed, after which the core is cut out, and the resulting holes are filled with a mixture of raisins, nuts and cinnamon. The stuffed apples are placed on a baking sheet, poured with syrup diluted with water, and placed in the oven for half an hour. While baking, it is recommended to drizzle the dessert with maple sauce from time to time. The finished treat is served with ice cream. |
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chicken with maple syrup |
Chicken, two hundred grams of pecans, one hundred milliliters of maple syrup, one pinch each of coarse salt and ground cinnamon, one tablespoon of water. |
First, nuts, salt, cinnamon, water and seventy-five milliliters of maple syrup are mixed in one container. Then the resulting mixture is laid out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and baked for fifteen minutes at a temperature of two hundred degrees. Meanwhile, the bird is prepared, after which it is also placed in the oven for sixty minutes. Next, the chicken is thoroughly coated with the baked mixture, sprinkled with the remaining syrup and cooked over the next thirty minutes. The meat dish is served hot with baked potatoes. |
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maple apple muffins |
Two chicken eggs, one hundred grams of butter, three hundred and twenty-five grams of finely chopped apples, two hundred and twenty-five milliliters of maple syrup, six hundred and seventy-five grams of flour, one tablespoon of baking powder, one teaspoon each of chopped cinnamon, salt and nutmeg powder. |
To make this delicious apple dessert, you need to thoroughly beat the eggs with butter. After this, add maple syrup and chopped apples to the resulting mass. Next, the mixture must be supplemented with cinnamon powder, sifted flour, baking powder, ground nutmeg and rock salt. The preparation must be mixed well and packaged in cake tins. This dessert needs to be baked for twenty-five minutes. |
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maple syrup cookies |
Two hundred and fifty grams of flour, one hundred grams of butter, seventy-five grams of sugar, a chicken egg, a pinch of baking powder, seventy-five milliliters of maple syrup. |
To make these unusual cookies, you need to beat butter and granulated sugar in one bowl. Then syrup and egg are added to the mixture, after which everything is mixed well again. The resulting workpiece should be supplemented with flour and baking powder. The dough is thoroughly kneaded, placed in a bag and put in the refrigerator for one hour to infuse. After this, maple leaf-shaped cookies are made from the mass and placed in an oven preheated to one hundred and eighty degrees for ten minutes. Before serving, the finished baked goods are cooled and topped with maple sauce. |
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salad with maple syrup |
One hundred grams of broccoli, two red apples, one hundred and twenty grams of grape fruit, half a head of red onion, olive oil and maple syrup (two tablespoons each), ten grams of ginger, five tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, a tablespoon of Dijon mustard, salt (to taste) . |
First of all, prepare the sauce for dressing the salad. Syrup, mustard, salt, oil and vinegar are mixed in one container, and finely chopped ginger root is added to the resulting mixture. Then the cabbage is chopped and placed in the finished sauce. Chopped onions, grapes, apples and nuts are also added there. Everything is mixed well and served to the table. |
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salmon in maple syrup |
Seven hundred grams of salmon fillet, a glass of maple syrup, sixty milliliters soy sauce, a quarter of a glass of ground black pepper, vegetable oil (for baking). |
The fish is washed well, cut into portions, and placed in a mixture of syrup and soy sauce. After this, the workpiece is covered with cling film and put in the refrigerator for twenty-four hours for soaking. The next day, the salmon is carefully sprinkled with pepper, placed on a baking sheet lined with foil and greased with oil, and placed in an oven preheated to two hundred and sixty degrees for five minutes. The dish should be served immediately after preparation. |
In addition, various puff pastries, buns, cocktails and even cakes are prepared with maple syrup. All desserts that contain this product have a unique taste and aroma.
Often processed maple sap is used as a sweet sauce. It is poured over pancakes, pancakes and various pastries. Due to the fact that the calorie content of this product is low, many people also use it as a substitute for sugar. It is added to tea, coffee and other hot drinks.
In cosmetology
In cosmetology, maple syrup literally works wonders. This product has restorative properties and can make your skin perfect and your hair luxurious. Today it is absolutely not necessary to buy professional masks and balms to give your body beauty. You can get by perfectly with homemade cosmetics, which are very easy to create with your own hands exclusively from natural ingredients. In the table below you can find recipes for the best cosmetics, in which maple syrup is a mandatory component.
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Name |
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moisturizing mask for face and neck skin |
To create this delicious remedy, you will need to combine two teaspoons of honey and maple syrup in one bowl. You also need to add a small tablespoon there. oatmeal, a spoonful of yogurt and two teaspoons of pre-brewed green tea. It is recommended to keep the finished mask on the skin for no more than twenty minutes. |
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hair shine mask |
In this case, you need to prepare the pulp of two mangoes, twenty grams of crushed coffee beans, fifty milliliters of maple syrup, two quail eggs and a small spoon of ground cinnamon. All ingredients need to be mixed, crushed in a blender and applied to the hair. You need to wash off the mask after an hour with warm water. |
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lip balm |
To make this product, you need to melt nine grams of jojoba wax with six grams of passionflower oil. In another bowl, beat shea butter and mango butter (twelve grams each). Next two ready-made mixtures you need to combine and beat thoroughly again. After this, a mixture prepared from two grams of maple syrup and fifteen grams of castor oil is added to the mass. The product is whipped to an airy consistency, transferred to a suitable container and used as a colorless lipstick. The shelf life of this balm reaches six months. |
The benefit of maple syrup also lies in the fact that it can be used as a means of losing weight. In this case, you need to adhere to a special diet, which was invented in the 20th century by the American folk healer Stanley Burroughs. So, in order to get rid of extra pounds, you need to prepare a special cocktail, which should include half a glass of purified water, a pinch of crushed red pepper and two tablespoons of real maple syrup and natural lemon juice. These components just need to be mixed, and the finished cocktail must be consumed every morning for five days. Please note: when following this maple diet, you must exclude meat from your daily diet!
What to replace it with?
“What can I substitute for maple syrup?” - this question often worries those people for whom this product for some reason is not suitable, but really want to cook something original and tasty. So, if you prepare dishes that do not require high heat treatment, you can replace maple syrup with regular honey or agave syrup.
When it comes to baking, syrup is a substitute for maple syrup. carob and any jam. With these substitutes, pies and buns come out no less tasty and healthy.
If you prepare a marinade for meat, you can use Narsharab pomegranate sauce as a replacement. He will enrich meat dishes unusually pleasant sourness and a very appetizing burgundy hue.
Beneficial properties, harm and contraindications
You can talk about the beneficial properties of maple syrup for a very long time. This product includes many different antioxidants and vital chemical elements (potassium, zinc, phosphorus, calcium, etc.). Natural maple syrup is also rich in B vitamins, which are responsible for correct work human body.
It has been scientifically proven that boiled maple juice can be consumed in the following cases:
- for the treatment of heart and vascular diseases;
- to strengthen the immune system;
- to increase potency;
- for the treatment of atherosclerosis.
The great thing is that processed maple sap contains virtually no compounds such as oxalates and purines. This indicates that this product cannot cause allergies.
Maple syrup can harm the body only if consumed in unlimited quantities. This is due to the fact that this product contains quite a lot of glucose. If you have diabetes, it is recommended to drink maple syrup with caution.
The only contraindication to this healthy sweet sauce is individual intolerance to it.
Maple syrup is a very tasty product that is useful for both adults and children. In the latter case, the amount of syrup consumed per day must be limited. Give children no more than three tablespoons of this product per day.
We know about such a product as maple syrup from popular films and photos. famous people. Where every second hero pours it over freshly prepared pastries.
What is it? What does he look like? Why is it needed? How to make it? What are the benefits and harms of this product? You will find out from our article.
How is maple syrup made, what can it be replaced with, and what is the composition of the product?
A product like maple syrup has been around for a long time. It was found by Europeans long before the discovery of America. The drinks were made from the natural product of maple sap. Later, over time, Europeans improved the method of extracting and processing raw materials. Until now, the extraction process has not changed, nor has the demand for it.
How to make maple syrup, what does it taste like?
As mentioned above, before making the product, juice is extracted. The period of sap extraction begins in early spring. It is during this season that the juice acquires useful and tasty properties. A small hole is made in the tree trunk, and with the help of a special tube, the liquid flows into containers fixed next to it.
The resulting liquid is evaporated. This takes several hours. In order to make one liter of syrup, you need to produce about forty liters of fresh juice. You can collect sap from one tree for decades; this process does not harm the plant.
In our country, maple sap is not collected. Extraction and processing of this product is developed in Canada and North America. This is where sugar maples are specially planted.
Basically the juice can be obtained from three types maple: black, sugar and red. Such trees reach thirty meters in height, and their diameter can exceed one meter.
Maple syrup is a clear liquid. Like any other juice, maple is aromatic, thick and viscous. Its consistency can be compared to bee honey. It has an amber color. The harvest from this tree occurs at the end of spring. Honey, sugar and butter are produced from the juice, depending on the stage of boiling of the product.
What is maple syrup made from and how?
In America and Canada there are huge alleys with maples, which are grown specifically to extract juice. Once the sap from all the trees is collected, it is sent to a processing plant.
It goes through an evaporation process. Depending on the type of plant, this stage may take a different amount of time. In addition, it is worth noting that the product is natural, equivalent to our honey. No preservatives or dyes are used in its production..
Americans grow so many sugar maples that there is no need to speed up the evaporation process. One harvest quickly follows another. The demand for this product is constantly growing. In America it is a national product, but in our country it is an imported product from overseas.
What is in maple syrup: composition
As mentioned earlier, it made from natural raw materials. That is, it is already sold in stores without artificial additives and is one of the favorite treats of all ages.
Includes: healthy vitamins and microelements.
This delicacy is not only tasty, but also healthy. Americans consider its composition unique.
Maple syrup: benefits and harms
In our country, the main desserts with which baked goods are served are: jam, sugar and marmalade. They cannot be called completely healthy food. And maple syrup is great alternative our delicacies. In him no chemicals or preservatives present, which can harm both healthy and sick people.
The benefits of maple syrup are that it contains minimal amount of sugar. In addition, there is a huge list of vitamins and microelements. Let's look at the main advantages of the product:
- Recommended as a prevention of the development of neoplasms.
- Improves the functioning of the immune system.
- Speeds up metabolic processes.
- Strengthens "male strength".
- Prevents the development of diabetes and atherosclerosis.
- Recommended for diseases of the pancreas.
- Recommended for heart diseases.
- Cleanses the liver and helps it recover quickly.
- Has an antiseptic effect.
But, like any other product, maple syrup can be harmful. to the human body. This unique product still has contraindications:
- May be harmful if consumed in unlimited quantities.
- It should not be used by those who suffer from various allergic reactions.
- Those who adhere to a strict diet or have high cholesterol levels should avoid the product. The product contains a high percentage of glucose, so it should not be abused under any circumstances.
Is maple syrup healthy, what is its taste and where is it used?
Such a useful product as maple syrup is used not only for the prevention of diseases, but also in cooking. Its taste is reminiscent of freshly made caramel. Many chefs include this product in their signature dishes. You can also try making this dish using maple syrup.
- Used as a topping. Baked goods, salads and many desserts are topped with it.
- Americans use it instead of sugar in hot drinks.
- Delicious sweets (sweets, lollipops) are prepared from it.
- Often used as a base for sweet sauces.
Photos of maple syrup can be seen in films and cookbooks, but the best thing is to purchase this unique product and try it.
Maple syrup. Many people have a sweet tooth and enjoy eating chocolates and cakes. Everyone knows that sweets are harmful to the body.
In addition, in the modern confectionery industry, far from the most useful substances are used - Palm oil, synthetic fats, stabilizers, etc.
It would seem that sweets should be completely removed from the menu. But nature gave us syrups.
Maple syrup is made from the sap of the broadleaf maple tree.. The main producer is Canada. Even despite strict control over the product manufacturing process, there are still fakes on the market.
In this article we will talk about maple syrup, consider it beneficial features and side effects.
1. Abscisic acid contained in maple syrup stimulates the pancreas. One of its main functions is the secretion of the hormone insulin, which is involved in the breakdown of glucose. Diabetic conditions are associated with the lack of insulin production.
2. A unique element was discovered in maple syrup, named Quebecol in honor of the homeland of maple. It has a sweet taste, but is not a carbohydrate. 
By chemical composition the component is close to substances of the phenolic group and, therefore, approved for use by patients with diabetes. In the near future, quebecol may provide a sweetener for people dependent on external insulin.
3. The product is very rich in potassium. Its content in 100 g of syrup is up to 210 mcg. The function of this mineral is to provide nutrition and maintain the tone of smooth muscles, which include the heart muscle.
5. For girls during puberty and women during pregnancy, zinc will ensure protein absorption and growth.
6. Zinc plays an important role in the growth of lymphocytes - cells that form an immune response to a viral or bacterial attack.
7. Manganese, the content of which is 3.5 mcg in 100 g of maple syrup, along with calcium and zinc, is important for maintaining the correct balance of substances in bone tissue.
8. Manganese is involved in the formation and transmission of nerve impulses.
9. Maple syrup contains antioxidants, similar to those found in red wine and tomatoes. However, unlike tomatoes and wine, antioxidants do not affect gallbladder and liver.
10. Maple syrup, due to its low content of substances that cause allergies, can be used by people prone to such reactions in the body.
11. Natural maple syrup contains no dyes or preservatives.
The harm of maple syrup
1. Speaking about the dangers of maple syrup, it is worth understanding how it is consumed. As a therapeutic diet, any syrup, including maple syrup, has recommendations for daily norm. One spoon a day will not do any harm.
But if you regularly use syrup as a topping for pancakes and other baked goods, then you need to understand that more harm comes from flour products, not from syrup.
2. Diabetics should take the syrup with caution. Despite its low effect, maple syrup is not indicated for all types and degrees of diabetes.
3. It is undesirable to use maple syrup during pregnancy in case of high uterine tone. Potassium contained in the syrup maintains smooth muscle tone, and the potassium antagonist in this case will be magnesium, which is prescribed to reduce tone.
Homemade maple syrup
Maple syrup is quite an expensive product. His average price$70-80 per liter, but you can try making the syrup yourself.
It will differ from the original Canadian one in its reduced content of glucose and other substances and, possibly, in taste. 
1. Maple sap can be collected during heavy spring traffic, when nutrients approach the buds of the tree. This usually happens when during the day the air warms up to +15...+20, and at night there are still frosts.
2. Select a maple tree with a five-pointed leaf and a wide trunk, drill a hole in it at an angle so that the sap flows down. Insert the tube and remove it into an enamel or glass container.
3. On average, a liter of syrup will require up to 50 liters of fresh juice. From one tree you can get 4-6 liters in a few hours.
4. The juice should be boiled in an enamel bowl until it becomes syrup, evaporating the water. The process, depending on the sugar content in the juice, can take up to 18-25 hours.
5. When a syrupy state is reached, remove the dish from the stove and let it cool, then pour into several jars, close with lids and put in the refrigerator.
If you have ever collected birch sap, then you can handle maple sap without any problems. Buy juice or collect it yourself - the choice is yours.
Features of making maple syrup. Composition and benefits for the body. Who is not recommended to use the product? Recipes and uses in cooking.
The content of the article:
Maple syrup is a product obtained by boiling the sap of a maple tree, collected by the usual method of cutting the trunk. It can come from holly, black, mahogany or sugarwood, but classic recipes only require last option. This is a viscous translucent liquid of dark amber color with a pungent odor, similar to honey, only a little rarer. Its main producers and suppliers are Canada and the USA. In cooking, it is used in desserts and baked goods, especially ice cream and bread, as well as meat, fish and salads.
Composition and calorie content of maple syrup
The product does not include proteins and fats, it only contains carbohydrates, which makes it high enough in calories to be consumed in large quantities. It does not contain vitamins and amino acids, but there are various minerals.
The calorie content of maple syrup per 100 g is 261 kcal, of which:
- Proteins - 0 g;
- Fats - 0 g;
- Carbohydrates - 67 g.
- Zinc - 4.16 mg;
- Manganese - 3.3 mg;
- Magnesium - 14 mg;
- Calcium - 67 mg;
- Potassium - 204 mg.
Beneficial properties of maple syrup
It is extremely useful for bones, teeth, nails, heart, blood vessels. Its use seems especially relevant for men who want to improve the quality intimate life. Maple syrup will become indispensable for people with a predisposition to cardiac, rheumatic, and andrological diseases.
Here are the roles the product plays:
- Immunomodulator. It improves blood counts, increases the body's resistance to viruses and infections, protects against the development of influenza, sore throat, tonsillitis and a number of other diseases associated with low immunity. It is for this reason that, if possible, it should be included in their diet by all those who do not want to suffer from ARVI during the cold season, when the risk of suffering is very high.
- Regulator of sexual function. Since maple syrup contains zinc, it helps restore potency, making erections in men stronger and faster. short time. This is important primarily for those who have similar problems in their intimate lives.
- Heart restorer. Due to its effect, the muscle of this organ is strengthened, its contraction is normalized, blood flow is improved and the likelihood of cardiac diseases is minimized. It not only participates in their treatment, but also provides reliable prevention against heart attack, stroke, angina pectoris, arrhythmia, and atherosclerosis.
- Vessel cleaner. It brings order to them, removes excess cholesterol, toxins and waste, which, accumulating inside for years, disrupt blood flow and contribute to the development of atherosclerosis, hypertension, angina pectoris and a number of other cardiovascular pathologies.
- CNS stimulant. This delicacy is very sweet, which is why it improves your mood, calms you down and gives you a boost of energy throughout the day. Thanks to him, work is restored nervous system, apathy and weakness disappear, the desire to work appears.
Note! This product can replace sweet treats in the form of sweets, cookies, jams, preserves, etc., which will be especially appreciated by people suffering from diabetes.
Contraindications and harms of maple syrup
First of all, people with increased level glucose in the blood, since the product is very sweet and can cause a jump in it. In this case, dizziness, nausea and loss of consciousness may occur. For the same reason, it is not recommended for people with high blood pressure.
To those who have excess weight, you also need to be extremely careful because large quantity calories. If you abuse the product, you can quickly gain weight, because it contains only carbohydrates, and in considerable quantities.
Maple syrup can cause harm due to individual intolerance, which occurs quite often. If consumed by people with sensitivity to the components of the liquid, there is a possibility of skin rash, itching, redness and other symptoms of diathesis.
Note! Due to the high risk of developing allergies, pregnant women, especially in the last trimester, children, especially small ones, and the elderly should exclude this liquid from their diet.
How is maple syrup made?
Before making maple syrup, the sap is first extracted, usually in early spring or late winter, after buds appear on the branches. For this, only healthy, young trees are used. Their bark is cut to a depth of 5 cm, and special tubes are inserted into the resulting voids. Next, they are sent to a bucket or jars, where the liquid drains. This process is in many ways reminiscent of collecting birch sap.
After receiving the liquid, it is filtered to eliminate any remaining bark. Then it is filled into non-stick pans and evaporated under the lid for 30-60 minutes. It is not recommended to do this for longer, otherwise the product will turn out too thick, which may result in difficulties with sugaring. It may also reduce shelf life. At the same time, it is best to boil the juice outside, since at this time the steam evaporates, which then remains on the furniture in the kitchen, leaving a sticky film.
After purchasing maple syrup at home with a more or less thick consistency, you need to cool it a little, pour it into jars and seal it tightly. plastic lids. It should be stored in the refrigerator or basement for a maximum of one year.
Recipes with maple syrup
This product is used very widely in cooking. It is used to prepare fruits, meat and even fish. It makes quite tasty sweets and baked goods. This is an excellent replacement for honey and sugar in jams, preserves, and preserves. He showed himself perfectly in buns, pies, waffles. It can not only be added to dough, but also used as an additive to pancakes and pancakes.
Pay close attention to the following recipes using maple syrup:
- Baked apples. First, prepare a mixture of cinnamon (a pinch), pre-soaked, dried and ground white raisins (100 g) and walnuts (one cup). Then pour boiling water over and leave large, non-wormy green apples with a sour taste (5-7 pcs.) for 30 minutes. After this, cut off the top, remove most of the pulp and fill the depressions made with the previously prepared filling. Next, place it all on a baking dish and pour maple syrup on top, mixed in a 1:1 ratio with boiled, cooled water. Bake fruit in the oven at minimum temperature within 20-30 minutes. Before serving, finished apples can be poured with melted ice cream.
- Chicken. First, peel it, wash it, rub it with salt, pepper and lemon, leaving it for 30 minutes. At this time, mix cinnamon (a pinch), maple syrup (60 ml), water (70 ml) and crushed walnuts(100 mg). Then place this mixture on a baking sheet, greased with butter and lined with parchment paper, and bake for about 10 minutes. Next, cool this stuffing and fill the cleaned bird with it. Place the chicken on a baking sheet, drizzle maple syrup on top and place in the oven for an average of 40 minutes.
- Cupcakes. Break into a saucepan chicken eggs(3 pcs.), pour in melted water over low heat butter(120 g), add soda slaked with vinegar (1 tsp) and sugar (100 g). Then beat the mass and carefully add into it, stirring, the sifted flour, which is needed so that the dough turns out a little thicker than for pancakes. Then peel and chop the apples, add to the pan, and also pour in maple syrup (5 tbsp). Stir the mixture, grease the molds vegetable oil and spread the dough over them. Bake the cupcakes for 25 minutes at a temperature of no more than 200 degrees. When ready, sprinkle them with powdered sugar or maple syrup.
- Cookie. Melt the butter (200 g), combine it with granulated sugar (150 g) and beat with a blender. Then pour in maple syrup (5 tbsp), add baking powder (1 tsp), beat in eggs (2 pcs.) and add wheat flour, which needs about 2 glasses. Knead the resulting dough thoroughly, put it in a bag and put it in the refrigerator for 1 hour. After this time, take it out, roll it out into a thin layer no more than 0.5 cm thick, cut it out using special forms maple leaf, place on a baking sheet greased with vegetable oil and bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Top the cookies with your favorite marmalade, jam or condensed milk.
- Salad. Lightly boil broccoli (100 g) in salted water, chop cabbage, peeled red apples (2 pcs.), red onion (1 pc.) and separate grapes (100 g) from the branches. Mix all this, sprinkle with chopped ginger root (5 g), pour over maple syrup (2 tbsp.), olive oil(1 tbsp), mustard (0.5 tsp) and apple cider vinegar (1 tsp). Salt the dish to taste, cool and eat along with your favorite side dishes.
- Baked salmon. Separate it from the skin, and if you didn’t buy fillets, you will need 4 fish steaks. Then rub it lemon juice and salt, leave for 30 minutes, pour over maple syrup, wrap in foil and place on a baking sheet greased with vegetable oil. Bake the salmon in the oven for about 20 minutes, then sprinkle with black pepper to taste and pour over soy sauce.
The first written mention of the product dates back to 1760. One of the documents talked about certain trees growing in Canada that produce very tasty juice that can be processed to produce healthy treats. But there is evidence proving the fact that maple syrup was used by the indigenous Indians of North America even before Columbus landed on the shores of the continent. In Russia, people started talking about it only in the 20th century; it was then that the first attempts were made to produce a delicacy from the sap of Norway maples.
The most delicious syrup is made from the sap of the sugar maple, which, unfortunately, grows only in North America and Canada. By the way, it is the latter country that accounts for the largest percentage of product exports in the world. She earns about 140 million Canadian dollars annually from this. In the US, the leading states in producing the product are Vermont, Maine and Pennsylvania. Here, the quality of the liquid is monitored by employees of a special committee.
From 40 liters of tree sap, only 1 liter of syrup can be prepared, which is why it is quite expensive. On average, 500 ml of product from Canada costs 1500-2000 rubles. Most often you have to buy it to order in online stores, since such goods are a rare “guest” in supermarkets.
When choosing maple syrup, you need to make sure that it is transparent or translucent, with a brown tint. Saturated colors may indicate the addition of artificial colors to improve presentation. It is equally important that the liquid smells like wood. Also, the label should not list any ingredients other than tree essence.
The shelf life of maple syrup in low humidity conditions in the refrigerator or basement ranges from a few months to 1-2 years. The longer it sits, the more it darkens and the taste becomes more tart.
This is an excellent product for cosmetology, which can be added to masks for the care of hair, lips, skin around the eyes, and so on. It moisturizes the skin well, saturates it with moisture, prevents dryness, scrubs and cleanses it of toxins.
Maple syrup is one of the ingredients in an effective weight loss cocktail, the recipe for which was invented by the famous nutritionist Stanley Burrows. He suggested combining hot ground cayenne pepper (a pinch), lime, grapefruit and lemon juice (2 tbsp each) and the main product (20 ml). The finished drink should be taken 300 ml per day as part of the Niira diet.
Below we provide a table that describes the countries with the highest consumption of the product.
| Place | A country | State / province |
| 1 | Canada | Quebec |
| 2 | USA | Utah, Vermont, Pennsylvania |
| 3 | France | Ile-de-France, Normandy, Champagne |
In Canada, this product has become so popular that the province of Quebec celebrates the Sugar Hut holiday every year. It falls during the harvesting of juice; festivities take place right in the forest. At this time, guests are treated to delicacies based on maple sap syrup. Usually beans are served on the table, chicken breast, ham and even beer with the addition of this ingredient.
Since it is very difficult to find real sugar maple syrup in Europe, if necessary, due to the similarity in consistency, color and taste, it can be replaced with agave essence or ordinary honey.
Watch a video about maple syrup:
Today, maple syrup has gained fame as a natural sugar substitute. Bottles with a sweet brown liquid can be found in any kitchen of devotees healthy eating and those who want to get rid of extra pounds. This sticky product is believed to provide the body with vital important elements and helps you stay healthy. Is this really so, and is the maple supplement recommended for everyone? Let’s figure it out together.
What is maple syrup
Maple syrup is a sticky, sweet substance that is obtained from the sap of certain varieties of maple trees. Such trees are not at all rare and are found on many continents. But despite this, Canada has managed to maintain leadership in the world food market for centuries.
Of all the goods available, about 80 percent are manufactured in this country. Historically, this is a traditional delicacy for Canadians. It’s not for nothing that the maple leaf is featured on the Canadian flag.
Did you know? It is known that maple syrup was popular among the Indians even before Christopher Columbus discovered America. Although the first written mentions of this delicacy date back to 1760. They talk about marvelous Canadian maples, the sap of which is suitable for producing edible sugar.
Appearance and taste
Today you can purchase maple syrup in specialized stores or order it through the Internet from distributors. You can also make it yourself.
A quality product is different:- thickness;
- transparent or translucent consistency (resembles honey);
- viscousness;
- a wide range of amber shades (from light yellow to dark red);
- pleasant aroma.
This woody product tastes very sweet, so it is widely used in cooking. The liquid is suitable for baking pancakes, waffles, corn bread, gingerbread, as well as for making ice cream and other desserts. Genuine syrup has a specific woody taste. 
How is maple syrup made?
Both in industry and at home, maple syrup is produced in several stages. The first involves the collection of raw materials, which is carried out by drilling the trunks of sugar, Norway, red and black maples. And the second involves evaporating the juice to a certain thickness.
Important! The color of maple syrup depends on the time of collection of raw materials. The later this happens, the richer the color will be. As a rule, these are variations of purple and brown shades. It is believed that such a product has a more concentrated aroma and rich taste.
The technology for producing authentic syrup is very close to the technology for producing coconut sugar. Tree sap flows through numerous tubes, which are fixed on the maple trunk, into a special container. Then the liquid is poured into clean containers and simmered over low heat until a honey consistency is obtained.
If the raw materials are overcooked, maple sugar may turn out. In cooking, it is customary to use dark varieties of syrup for dishes that require heat treatment. And light ones are served raw for desserts. Unfortunately, there are many fakes on sale that have nothing to do with maple. They are made from fructose and regular sugar. And for masking they add maple flavoring. Therefore, you should be careful when purchasing such products.
Syrup composition
Despite the popularity of this herbal product, there are very opposing opinions about its benefits. Some argue that this is an excellent remedy for maintaining the vital functionality of the body, while others are convinced that the meager composition of maple syrup can do little to help the body, much less a weakened one.
Did you know? Every year, the Canadian people earn about $145 million from the export of maple sap.
Therefore, before judging the benefits or harms of the Canadian delicacy, let’s try to look into its contents. Experts who studied the quantitative composition of nutrients in this product in laboratory conditions came to the conclusion that the proportion of vitamins and minerals in the syrup is insignificant. As a result, the myth of healing properties liquid was dispersed. 
If we take the equivalent of the daily requirement human body in useful substances, then in a hundred-gram portion of maple syrup the following were found:
- magnesium (165%);
- zinc (28%);
- calcium (7%);
- iron (7%);
- potassium (6%).
But what benefits can we talk about when in order to saturate the body, for example, with zinc and magnesium, you need to eat at least 100 grams of the product. But in addition to these components, it contains 67 grams of sucrose. It turns out that the minimum indicators of bonus minerals are not able to compensate for such an amount of sugar.
Important! When preparing sweet desserts, it is unacceptable to combine sugar and maple syrup.
The maple delicacy contains B vitamins, as well as polyphenols, quebecol and 24 antioxidants. They can be successfully replaced with a small amount of walnuts or any berries. In addition, in alternative much less sugar.
Therefore, all lovers of maple sweetener should take this nuance into account. Moreover, in 100 grams of liquid there are no proteins or fats, but there are 67 grams of carbohydrates. And this is with a calorie content of 268 kilocalories.
Beneficial features
It is very obvious that a plant product cannot act as effective remedy for weight loss and health improvement. It is much healthier to replace sugar in your diet, for example, with stevia.
Along with this, there is an opinion that with the regular use of maple syrup you can treat cardiovascular system, improve immunity and male potency. It has also been experimentally proven that quebecol, which is contained in the liquid, blocks the development of cancer cells and slows down the breakdown of carbohydrates.
But these experiments were not even carried out on animals, but in vitro. Therefore, it is impossible to speak confidently about the benefits of the product for humans.
Possible harm and contraindications
Maple syrup can cause harm if it is eaten uncontrollably. After all, the sucrose present in the composition will contribute to disruptions in metabolic processes, and will also provoke diabetes and obesity.
Therefore, people with high blood sugar levels, as well as those diagnosed with individual intolerance to the product, should give up the sweet supplement.
How to select and store the finished product
Despite the shortcomings of this sweet sauce, many recommend trying it. 
And all because of the pleasant taste and aroma. Therefore, in order not to fall for scammers, we offer you a selection of rules. Guided by them, you can easily distinguish real product from counterfeit.
- A high-quality liquid is always transparent or translucent. A cloudy consistency should alert you.
- Be sure to read the information on the label. It is important to pay attention to the country of manufacture and distributor. Also on back side The bottle should have a golden maple leaf. This is another confirmation of the authenticity of the Canadian product.
- Don't expect the product to be cheap. Real syrup is expensive, which is explained by the costly process of its production. Just imagine: to get 1 liter of syrup you will need 40 liters of maple sap.
- The taste of the authentic product has a hint of wood. Moreover, we are talking about an additive collected from different varieties maple and at any time of the year.
To store sweet sauce, you can choose a refrigerator or a regular one. kitchen cupboard. But if the product will be stored at room temperature, it definitely requires an airtight lid. 
Experts advise pouring the unpacked additive into a glass container and, to be safe, place it in the refrigerator. If the measures and conditions specified by the manufacturer are followed, the product can be stored for up to 3 years.
Cooking recipe: from juice to syrup
If you decide to delve into the secrets of the technology for reproducing a traditional Canadian delicacy yourself, you will initially need to be patient. The fact is that from the moment of preparing the juice to receiving the finished product, a lot of time will pass.
Tree tapping and sap collection
In the spring, when sap flow begins, select maples with thick trunks. Trees must be healthy. If buds begin to bloom on them, you need to look for other specimens for sap collection.
Did you know? On the world stage of the 18th century, maple syrup production was minimized. This was due to the popularity of cane sugar, the production of which required less financial and labor resources. But Canadians continued to pass on their secrets from generation to generation..
Next, a small hole is made on a suitable trunk with a drill. It is important that its depth does not exceed 8 centimeters. After that, an iron “spout” is inserted into the recess, from which a tube extends. From one such hole per day you can collect no more than 3 liters of juice.