Maple syrup is a sugary liquid , obtained from the sap of sugar maple (Acer saccharum) native to the Northeast of the United States.
It is the second natural less caloric sweetener (about 250 calories per hundred grams) exceeded only by agave juice and stevia; characterized by a very high mineral content. In addition to being used in cold northern countries as a source of sugars and essential nutrients, maple syrup is known for its purifying and re- mineralizing properties .
The delicate flavor, similar to acacia honey, makes it particularly pleasant as a natural sweetener dissolved in drinks or in the preparation of desserts, with the advantage of containing fewer calories (about 250 calories per 100g) compared to other sweeteners such as sugar, honey or malt. For these reasons it is recommended for diabetics and in some diet regimes .
Maple syrup in the past and the extraction technique
In North America, the ancient Iroquois natives worked the sap of maple, to obtain sweetening crystals, as a substitute for cane sugar. Only later was it discovered that it could be used for purifying and re-mineralizing properties.
Today Canada is responsible for over 80% of world production (in particular the province of Québec, in New England, to the south of the Ontario region ) so that the syrup manufacturing process has become part of the national culture : residents of metropolitan regions visit the sugarshacks (the places where fresh sap is processed) at least once a year, where maple syrup dishes are served in a rustic and homemade atmosphere.
The sap of the maple is collected at the beginning of spring, when the maple is in a quiescent state, before the spring whipping, in cultivation areas known as sugarbush or sugarwoods . According to the traditional method of harvesting, at the beginning of April, they are practiced in adult specimens, some holes about one meter from the ground, into which a small tube is introduced to make it flow.
Subsequently the sap is boiled in order to concentrate its juice : in order to obtain a liter of syrup 40 liters of maple sap are needed!
Therefore the syrup derives from the sap concentration process, and is classified according to the degree of refining (grade A, grade B, grade C). The most valuable varieties are those of amber color; while the darker ones have a higher hint of caramel.
Maple syrup: cost and where to buy
The properties of maple syrup
Maple syrup as a natural sweetener due to its moderate sucrose content is very suitable for feeding children and sportsmen, as it can be used diluted in water both before training and as a rapid absorption sugar supplement., and minerals .
In fact, although sucrose is the main component, the sap is also rich in malic acid, potassium, calcium, iron, B vitamins, and phenolic components, antioxidant substances, which make it a valid weapon against cellular aging . Furthermore, thanks to these components, it performs a diuretic , slimming and purifying action.
The researchers believe that when the maple tree is engraved to make the sap, it reacts by producing phenolic compounds, as a defense mechanism, as the juice itself would contain only low concentrations of these compounds.
To take advantage of these properties you can combine the filtered juice of half a lemon, half a liter of water, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup and drink it away from meals. This drink reactivates the circulation and promotes the thermogenesis of the grass i.
It is therefore useful to purify and lose a few extra pounds. Also suitable for those suffering from cellulite. It can also be used only as a purifying supplement.
