Maple Syrup may seem like a simple product but it is full of flavor and general goodness. Crazy Coffee Crave is a huge fan of maple syrup not only as an alternative sweetener but also as an addition to your drink for flavor as well as your health!
When you think of maple syrup, you think of New England and Canada. The north east of the United States is well known for its production of delicious maple syrup but what exactly is maple syrup?
What is Maple Syrup?
Maple syrup is sap from the maple tree that is harvested by drilling a hole into the tree and inserting a special spout so that farmers can harvest the precious maple sap. Farmers then put the maple syrup through a special process called reverse osmosis in order to remove as much water from the sap as possible before boiling the sap.
Boiling the sap creates a candy like texture in the sap and elevates the sweetness and syrupy texture that we know and love. The sap is now maple syrup and is ready to be filtered and processed.
Maple Syrup as a Sugar Alternative
Maple syrup can be added to just about any drink as a sugar alternative or simply for its warming and delicate flavor. However, maple syrup isn’t just an alternative to sugar in your coffee, it’s a whole lot more!
Nutritional Facts and Benefits of Maple Syrup
Maple syrup isn’t just tasty, it’s also good for you! All natural maple syrup contains as many as up to 24 antioxidants that you cannot find in sugar, corn syrup or agave nectar. Maple syrup also acts as an anti-inflammatory. Some of the main antioxidants found in maple syrup include benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, gallic acid and more!
It’s always best to choose Grade A maple syrup that is as dark as possible. These are less processed syrups and contain the most antioxidants of all the syrups. Maple syrup is also healthier for your gut than other sweeteners that contained refined sugars.
Not only does maple syrup have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, maple syrup also contains vitamins and minerals such as zinc, manganese, potassium and calcium! This means that when you add maple syrup to your drink you are adding sweetness, flavor and plenty of healthy additions to your diet!
Maple Syrup as a Drink Feature
Maple syrup isn’t just a healthier alternative sweetener but also a delicious feature! Don’t hide away the amazing flavors that maple syrup has to offer – instead, let’s enhance it! We’ve put together some flavorful recipes for you to try with maple syrup as the well-deserving costar to coffee!
Maple Latte
At-home lattes can be tricky but they are so worth it when you take that first sip! Follow this simple at-home Maple Latte recipe for a tasty treat when you need it most.
- Prepare a latte at home – check out our article “How to Make a Latte Without an Espresso Machine at Home” to find out how!
- Once you reach step three of “How to Make a Latte Without an Espresso Machine at Home” measure out 1-2 ounces of Grade A dark maple syrup or a maple syrup of your choice.
- Pour the maple syrup into your espresso shot and whisk or stir until the maple syrup is fully combined with the espresso.
- Continue with step three of “How to Make a Latte Without an Espresso Machine at Home” and voila! Your very own Maple Latte at home!
Cafe Au Lait with Maple Syrup
For those who prefer a lighter coffee beverage and want to avoid espresso all together, a cafe au lait is the perfect drink for you.
Simply brew your coffee as you would normally while heating up half a cup of the milk of your choice. Add 1-2 ounces of maple syrup to your hot coffee and stir well before adding the hot milk to your beverage and enjoy!
Put It Over Ice!
Both the Maple Latte and the Cafe Au Lait with Maple Syrup are amazing beverages whether you drink them hot or cold. If you prefer a cool, refreshing coffee drink then keep reading for a few tricks to icing your recipes without diluting the flavor or caffeine!
- To avoid diluting your beverage, brew your coffee stronger so that the flavor and caffeine content are not overpowered by melting ice!
- Allow your coffee to cool down before creating your iced beverage by putting in the fridge or freezer for a fast cool down.
- Cold brew your coffee and keep on hand in the fridge!
- Make ice cubes with coffee or milk of your choice to use in your iced coffee drinks so that they won’t get diluted!
More Maple!
As you can tell, Crazy Coffee Crave is a huge fan of maple syrup. If you’re looking for a tasty and fun alternative sweetener, give maple syrup a go. We think you’ll love it!
Sophie Kidd Carr
Sophie Kidd Carr is a freelance writer and educator with over five years of experience in the coffee industry. Sophie also enjoys traveling to different countries and discovering new adventures.
