Grades and Standards U.S. Grade A is the quality of maple syrup that: Not more than 68.9 percent solids content by weight (Brix);

However, only Grade A maple syrup is sold to the public and certifies that the maple syrup is obtained by no other method than concentrating maple sap (maple water), that there's no cloudiness in the product, that it's free of fermentation, uniform in colour, free of sediment, that its maple flavour is characteristic ...

In actuality, grade B is equal in quality to grade A. Yet the naming didn't convey that message. To avoid confusion, the industry reclassified all maple syrups as grade A. They are all grade A, but each has a different color and taste profile.

Between Grade A and B syrup, Grade B is the darker and bolder of the two. But to cut down on confusion in the grocery aisle, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will revise their grading standards to remove Grade B and instead, create four new classifications of Grade A syrup.

What grade maple syrup is healthiest? Whether it's for use in a master cleanse or as a topping for your pancakes, Grade A Dark will be better for you. It has more antioxidants and mineral content than the lighter colors.

The only differences in the grades of maple syrup are their color and taste. Syrup made from sap collected early in the season has a lighter color, while syrup made later in the season, when the weather is warmer, is darker. The darker the syrup, the stronger the flavor.

All USDA Grade A maple syrup must be 100% pure with no additives. It must have a minimum density of 66 brix, equal to 66% sugar. Individual state requirements may vary. Syrup that is less than 66% sugar can spoil quickly.

Despite the variation on the outside, the syrup inside can only be one of four grades - Golden, Amber, Dark or Very Dark. Maple grades are made of two components, color and flavor, and the flavor corresponds with the color. The darker the syrup, the stronger the maple flavor.

Best grade of maple syrup..... Whether it's for use in a master cleanse or as a topping for your pancakes, Grade A Dark will be better for you. It has more antioxidants and mineral content than the lighter colors.