Issues → March/April 2008 → Food →
Best 5 Maple Syrups
New Hampshire maple syrup wins Yankee taste test
by Annie B. Copps
Photographer: Heath Robbins
Our panel sampled 19 bottles of maple syrup from all over New England. The names of the producers were hidden. We tend to think of Vermont when we think of maple syrup and sugar shacks, but in the end, it was all New Hampshire producers who won our hearts and our tastebuds.
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For more maple flavor, read a "Yankee Classic" story celebrating a Vermont maple sugaring family, Making Maple Syrup, and sample a selection of our maple recipes.
Or try your syrup on French toast. We've got a recipe for you!
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And the WINNERS are...
FIRST PLACE
MONADNOCK SUGARHOUSE
Jaffrey, 603-876-3626"sweet, tasty, smooth"
"lightly smoky"
SECOND PLACE
WYCHWOOD FARM
Andover, 603-648-6691"earthy and very maple syrupy"
THIRD PLACE
OLKKOLA FARM
Ossipee, 603-539-3535olkkolafarm.com
"hearty, with notes of vanilla"
FOURTH PLACE
FULLER'S SUGARHOUSE
Lancaster, 603-788-2719fullerssugarhouse.com
"buttery, with a true maple flavor"
FIFTH PLACE
THE MAPLE GUYS
Lyndeborough, 603-487-3292, mapleguys.com"deep maple flavor -- yum!"
Reader Comments
Comment from SUSAN BARNES on March 7, 2008
I love maple syrup. I would love to try your winners products, but I support our local maple producers here in The Berkshires--particularly Berkshire Harvest in Lanesboro, MA. (berkshireharvest.com). I am currently enjoying their grade A light amber--a half gallon jug. I love the decorative bottles they use. They also have expanded over the years and have a store stocked with some great items. The location is great also-at the base of Mount Greylock--the highest point in Massachusetts.
Comment from Laurinda Gallant on March 14, 2008
I am a fan of Parker's Maple Barn in Mason, NH. It has the best dark amber around!
Comment from Mark Blake on April 2, 2008
It would have been nice to know what grades of syrup were tasted. Surprising that not one VT one was selected!?!? Must not have had any true New Englanders on the panel! Seems the majority of people today prefer the darker grade B (table syrup), while the old time VT/NH/ME natives favor the best-of-the-best Grade A Light Fancy (As I do), which has a more delicate maple flavor, terrific over vanilla ice cream and with home-made (from scratch!!) pancakes, etc. Anyway, there truly isn't any "bad" maple syrup, just subtleties to discover as folks educate their palate! Enjoy!
Comment from Heather Atwell on April 3, 2008
The panel (which did include some real New Englanders) sampled Grade B. And you are right - there truly isn't any bad maple syrup!! I cannot believe I've gotten to April 3 without any sugar on snow.
Comment from kimberly gammon on April 11, 2008
I just bought a galloon from Putnams Sugar House.. i know it won't last long! I use it as a base for a sauce for my bacon wrapped scallops..
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