Maple syrup

[cl0udy.livejournal.com]

Where might I be able to purchase a bottle of authentic, delicious maple syrup? It'll be a gift for my British friend. I'd also rather buy from a store in the Boston area than order online.

Comments

[cos]

You should be able to find it at pretty much any supermarket around here, just read the label. I don't think I've ever seen a supermarket around here that didn't stock pure maple syrup.

I get local-ish bulk syrup at Harvest Coop in Central Sq, but their bulk is grade B (generally meant for baking, it's darker and sweeter than the grades usually used for eating directly). Of course they also carry A dark amber and A medium amber in prepackaged containers, like everyone else.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

I did NOT know that Harvest carried grade B dark - that's my favorite for eating!

Good to know, no more road trips to Morse Farm in Montpelier.

[wallacestreet.livejournal.com]

TJ's sometimes has it as well.

[nathanjw]

If one is being picky, TJ's maple syrup is usually from Canada; if one is going to the trouble of getting something local, might as well go all the way and get Massachusetts maple syrup. Massachusetts maple syrup lovers stick together!

[cos]

The grades are: A light amber, A medium amber, A dark amber, B, and C. So technically there's no "B dark", it's just B. But yes, they have grade B, it's in one of the big plastic bulk containers. I usually bring my own empty maple syrup container to refill, though they have little plastic containers there.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

So technically there's no "B dark"

It's just the terminology I learned from my Quebecois/Vermont in laws, when I was married.

[cos]

Huh, odd, I've known a lot of Vermonters but never heard that.

Did you know Vermont has a slightly different grading system from everyone else? Same grade names, but the cutoff points are slightly different, so that for example, the bottom end of what would be grade A dark amber elsewhere, is at the top end of grade B if it's from Vermont.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

Ah, so the woodchucks grade harder?

I prefer the dark maple syrup, not just for cooking, and it's something my late father in law taught me.

That and maple creamees.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

they apparently changed systems "officially" a while ago, and as a result, phased out the old "C" grade - i still have a liter, it's like molasses. i'm sure you can still get that ... somewhere. i got mine at TJs, but the best they do is some kind of "B".

you might be able to score a variety if you hit the farm stands outside of cambridge along rte 2 out past 95.

but almost any store should sell the stuff around here. the real stuff.

i had to laugh when i went into a diner in NH and "mrs butterworths" was the standard, and real maple was $2 more... and this just miles from at least two maple houses. bak. next time, i brink my own, and sneer.

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[avjudge]

I've read that the current labeling system was designed to get the tourists to buy the light stuff by calling it "grade A" while the New Englanders get to keep all the yummy dark stuff for themselves!

(Yes, it was a joke. Not mine, I really did read it somewhere in the dim past.)

[lerta.livejournal.com]

Boston Organics also has grade B. Though, they may only sell to their recurring subscribers. I'm not sure...