Maple Syrup VS Honey

Honey has been used since ancient times. It comes from bees collecting nectar, transforming it into honey and storing it in their hives.

Maple syrup is made by boiling maple sap until the water evaporates leaving behind concentrated maple sugar. Both are sweet natural sugars, but there are key differences between them. Lets explore the differences between honey and maple syrup, and how our Skinny alternatives can be a great healthier substitute without such a high sugar content. 

What Is Maple Syrup?

Maple syrup is a sweetener extracted from the maple tree. Maple trees grow abundantly in Canada and the United States. They produce sap during the spring months. The sap is collected from trees using a special tool called a spile. A spile consists of two parts: a hollow tube with a pointed end and a cap that fits over the open end of the tube. When the cap is removed, the sap flows freely out of the tube.

When the sap of maple trees collects in the hollow tube, it becomes thick and sticky. After it sits for a while, it dries up and hardens into a solid mass known as sapwood. That woody substance must then be cut away before the sap can flow again.

Once the sap is harvested, it is boiled down to extract the maple syrup. The amount of time required to boil the sap determines the colour and flavour of the final product. Different varieties of real maple syrup vary in colour from light amber to dark brown. These colours indicate the length of time the sap was boiled. 

What is Honey? 

Raw honey is extracted from bee hives,  but how do they make it? We're sure that you'll know bees extract nectar (a sugar-like liquid) from flowers, the bees retrieve the nectar from the plants and return it to the hive, depositing it into a honeycomb. Honey is produced when bees collect pollen and nectar from flowering plants, store the food in hexagonal cells, and seal the cell walls with wax. Bees use the honey stored in these cells to feed themselves and their young.

However, in recent years the consumption of honey has been questioned, particularly by Vegan & animal rights representatives, as whilst it isn't a direct bi-product of animals, the production of honey, and in particular, bee farming has a dramatic effect on the extinction of bees. 

Bees are now considered an endangered species due to human activities, from destroying their habitats and thus limiting their food source, to farming  & even global warming.

What Are Our Skinny Alternatives?

We have a couple of alternatives throughout our product range for both Maple Syrup & Honey, each of these can help you reach your health goals or even allow you to enjoy completely vegan honey. 

• Zero Calorie Maple Syrup 

Our Skinny Syrup collection offers classic family favourite flavours without high grams of sugar. Our Classic Maple Syrup is:

• Allergen Free 
• Keto & Paleo Friendly 
• Gluten-Free & Coeliac Friendly 
• Vegan & Vegetarian Friendly 
• Fat-Free 
• Dairy Free & Lactose Friendly 
• No Added Sugar 

• Maple & Cinnamon Syrup 

For added flavour without excess sugar, we've also developed a sweet & spiced maple syrup with added cinnamon, perfect for pancakes, waffles & bakes - this is a best-seller and a Skinny Food Co HQ favourite. 

Much like our other syrups, the maple & cinnamon syrup is no exception there are no added amounts of sugar, and no major allergen concerns & it's suitable for most dietary requirements such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, keto, paleo & coeliac. 

Our syrups are a great alternative to sugar both in hot drinks and beverages like flavoured coffees, teas & hot chocolates but also pair really well whilst cooking your favourite desserts. 

•  Vegan Honey 

But without a shadow of a doubt, the star of the show is our Vegan Honey. As previously discussed, it's unclear whether or not Honey categorically falls into an 'animal product', however many Vegans believe it's a grey area that they do not wish to border, as Honey requires Bees to pollinate & create the honeycomb, with human interference being self-serving.

Our 'Bee Free' Honey tastes just like the real thing, it's Dairy-free, fat-free, gluten-free, sugar-free, Vegan & Zero Calorie. 

Maple Syrup vs. Honey 

• Maple syrup contains less calories than honey and is lower in fat. However, if you prefer your food sweeter, honey is still the best choice. Both of our alternative products however contain zero-calories. Meaning you don't have to worry about the nutritional information for your daily diet when comparing these products

Can I substitute maple syrup for honey in recipes?

Whilst they are easily substitutable for toppings on baked goods such as fluffy American style pancakes or waffles, we do not recommend substituting in cooking recipes. This is due to the texture & density. But also, maple syrup has a far sweeter taste than that of raw honey. 

Do I need to refrigerate Syrup & Honey? 

Unopened maple syrup does not require refrigeration unless it has crystallized. Refrigerating maple syrup slows the process of crystallization, but it doesn't stop it entirely. Maple sugar keeps indefinitely stored in a cool place.

This is the same for bottles of honey, whilst they don't require refrigeration it is recommended after opening to store in the fridge to slow the crystallization process. 

Once opened, both should be consumed within one month.

 What is the difference between Grade B and Grade A maple syrup?

Grade B maple syrup is slightly lighter in colour than grade A. It is produced from pure maple sap that is boiled longer and therefore has a slight difference in taste and colour.