How to taste maple syrup

We’re used to putting maple syrup into simple categories: light, amber, or dark. But the flavours of maple syrup are far more varied. In fact, you can do a whole side-by-side tasting of maple syrups, just like wine. And to help, Agriculture Canada and Centre Acer, a Quebec maple research facility, developed a maple flavour wheel and some tasting tips:

First, smell the syrup by taking three quick sniffs. Make a mental note of your impressions. Next, take a small sip of the syrup and swirl it around in your mouth. It is a good idea to spit it out if you can.Take about a minute to concentrate on the full range of flavours.

Try to associate the flavour with your own experience (for example, the aroma from a bag of marshmallows).

If possible, share your reaction with others, as this often helps trigger memory associations. Once you have identified what you think characterizes the taste,memorize the sensation and the name for it (for example, vanilla).

Finally, where possible, assess the degree of intensity (for example,mild, medium or strong).