Maple syrup vs. Honey - What's the difference?

Moving away from refined sugar is becoming more popular as we become more aware of what we put into our bodies and try to make healthier alternatives.

Two of the most popular alternatives to refined sugar are maple syrup and honey. You may lean towards the former to keep in your pantry (especially to drizzle on pancakes).

But what is the difference between maple syrup and honey?

Maple syrup and honey may look alike and have the same consistency, but there are many differences between the two, from their origin, to their flavor profile, to their nutritional content, and to their health benefits.

To help you better understand which one is better to include in your daily diet, to use as a sweetener, here are the differences between the two, and everything you need to know between them!

What is maple syrup?

Maple syrup is best known as a spread on pancakes and waffles, but it can also be used to sweeten hot drinks and other foods. It is a sap that comes from maple trees, which is very much like a sugary liquid syrup.

Maple syrup can only come from a maple tree, and over 80% of the world’s maple syrup comes from Canada.

It is a 100% natural sweetener and is more nutritious and generally healthier than white sugar.

Maple syrup comes in different grades, which are related to the color it is, and the range can vary from light amber to dark amber. This is considered grade A.

A tablespoon of maple syrup contains about 50 calories , but it also packs some nutritional benefits, including calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, and phosphorous, and also contains some antioxidants.

Warmer temperatures help maple trees convert stored starch into sugar, and sap is then created when the sugar mixes with groundwater. This sap is collected when a hole is made in the maple tree with a tap.

Once collected, the sap, which is a sticky, sweet liquid, is boiled to remove excess water and transform it into the popular maple syrup. From about 40 gallons of sap you get a gallon of maple syrup, since the sap only has 2% sugar.

There are four different types of maple syrups based on the popular classification:

• Grade A, light amber
• Grade A, medium amber
• Grade A, dark amber
• grade B

These four grades of maple syrup contain the same amount of sugar, but the difference is in the cooking time of the sap.  The darker the color of the maple syrup, the more intense its flavor.

Common questions about maple syrup

Is maple syrup vegan?

Maple syrup is considered vegan because it comes from trees and not animals. No animal products or by-products are added in the transformation of the sap into maple syrup.

Is maple syrup considered paleo?

There is no direct answer to this. Some consider it paleo because it is a form of sugar, while others disagree because it is a natural food that comes from trees.

Should maple syrup be kept in the fridge?

Maple syrup should only be kept in the refrigerator after opening. Unopened maple syrup can keep in the pantry for quite some time, but it should be refrigerated as soon as opened to prevent mold growth.

How long does maple syrup last before it goes bad?

Unopened maple syrup can be kept for years if it is in the proper container, under proper storage conditions.

Stored in a glass container, maple syrup can last up to 50 years without spoiling ; however, stored in plastic, maple syrup will last up to 2 years, and tin containers up to 6 months.

Once opened, maple syrup can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 1 year.

What is honey?

We all know and love honey, it is one of the most popular alternatives to using sugars to sweeten drinks and to enjoy so many other desserts and foods.

Honey is mostly made up of sugar, almost 80%, but it also contains some great nutrients and vitamins . It is full of antimicrobial and antiviral compounds and can be used to treat sore throats, skin wounds, and even the common cold.

Honey comes from bees , from all their hard work searching and collecting nectar from flowers.

The bees swallow this nectar and store it in their stomach, called a honey crop, which is separated from their digestive tract when it is added to the comb inside the hive.

The bees that remain in the hive begin to chew the nectar, which helps break down the complex sugars into simpler, more digestible sugars, using the bee’s own enzymes.

Along with the pattern of the comb, the waxy interior walls of the hive’s comb, and the fanning of the bee’s wings, the liquid evaporates, leaving behind the sweet liquid of honey.

The flavor and color of honey are influenced by the nectar that bees collect to make it . This honey has been made with wild flower nectar.

You may also wonder why bees make honey, the answer is that honey provides them with nutrient-dense food to enjoy during the winter.

Common questions about honey

Is honey vegan?

This is quite a controversial topic, however, many vegans do not consider honey to be vegan, as it is produced by bees and is therefore a food of animal origin.

Is honey considered paleo?

Honey is considered paleo, especially raw honey, but since it is high in sugar, it should be eaten in moderation.

Can honey go bad?

Honey can last almost forever, it is one of the only foods that does not spoil. Over time, the honey will start to crystallize, but this can be fixed by placing a glass jar of honey in a pot of hot water or a sink filled with hot water.

To prevent honey from crystallizing too soon, you should store it at room temperature, as honey starts to crystallize if it’s kept below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

The differences between maple syrup and honey

Taste

The taste of maple syrup and honey will be one of the deciding factors when choosing, so it is important to know the difference between the two.

The maple syrup contains some wonderful notes of caramel, along with the maple wood flavor that you would expect from maple sap.

Different types of maple syrup may also include other flavor notes, such as cinnamon, hazelnut, and vanilla.

The flavor profile of honey depends on the nectar used to make it , but the main flavor of honey is usually light, clean, pure, and sometimes floral. Bees are master craftsmen, and the nectar they choose makes truly delicious honey.

Processing and refinement

Honey and maple syrup are made very differently, even though they look so similar. Real maple syrup comes directly from the maple tree . The sap is collected from a tapped maple tree, then boiled to make a concentrated syrup.

Honey is obtained from bees, which collect and store the nectar in their hives.  As the nectar is stored, it breaks down into simple sugars, and evaporation of excess liquid is facilitated by the constant fanning of the bees’ wings, making the sticky honey we are familiar with.

nutritional differences

If you want to use honey or maple syrup to replace refined sugar in your diet, the nutritional difference between the two will matter most.

The two very similar viscosity and texture goo have some substantial nutritional differences.

The table below shows the nutritional value of various sweeteners, based on the recommended % Daily Value per 60 mL serving.

calorie count

In terms of caloric content, honey occupies the last place. A tablespoon of honey contains about 64 calories, while maple syrup contains about 50 calories.

This may not seem like a huge difference if you drink a cup or two of coffee or tea a day, but it starts to add up when you use larger amounts in baking or cooking.

sugar content

Honey and maple syrup also contain different sugars.

Pure maple syrup contains about 13.5 grams of carbohydrates, of which 12.4 grams are sucrose, which is a complex sugar. Honey contains about 17.4 grams of carbohydrates, of which about 17.3 grams are fructose.

Although both have significant sugar content, maple syrup contains less fructose.

Fructose has been shown to have a negative effect on heart health, so maple syrup is the best option in this regard. If you factor in the glycemic index, maple syrup comes out on top as it has an index of 54, while honey has an index of 58.

fat content

It may seem like maple syrup wins out on nutritional differences, but honey does have some advantages, it’s fat-free.

Maple syrup is very low in fat, with only 0.1 grams of fat per tablespoon.

minerals

Maple syrup, in its purest form, contains more calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, zinc, and manganese than honey.

All of them are great minerals for your body, enhancing immune support, aiding cell formation, and keeping red blood cells healthy.

Both honey and maple syrup contain equal amounts of selenium and phosphorus, but maple syrup contains less sodium, making it more suitable for low-sodium diets.

vitamins

Honey contains more vitamins than maple syrup.  Honey continues to be a great source of vitamin C, vitamin B, vitamin B-5, niacin, and folate. Vitamin B-5 helps convert carbohydrates into glucose.

Maple syrup also contains vitamin B-5, but it also contains twenty times more riboflavin, also known as vitamin B-12, which helps with energy production.

Maple syrup also contains thiamine (vitamin B-1), and others such as vitamins B-5, B-2, folic acid, vitamin B-6 and vitamin A, which help energy metabolism and improve vision.

Antioxidants

Maple syrup is full of antioxidants that are antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.

Honey is also famous for containing many different antioxidants, including phenols, which are linked to preventing blood clots and helping to increase blood flow.

The benefits of maple syrup

Maple syrup has a considerable sugar content , but it has other benefits that refined sugar does not, such as its mineral and antioxidant content.

By consuming just 1/3 cup of maple syrup, you can get 7% of your daily calcium needs, as well as 7% iron, 28% zinc, and 165% manganese.

The benefits of honey

Honey is high in sugar, but it is rich in antioxidants like phenolic acids and flavonoids, which help fight free radicals.

Honey is also antibacterial.  It’s a healthier substitute for white sugar, and honey has also been shown to help heal wounds.

Substitution of the two

If you bake or cook with honey or maple syrup, can you use one instead of the other?

Honey and maple syrup can be substituted for each other in a recipe in a 1:1 ratio , but you have to remember that syrup is thinner than honey, and that can have an effect depending on the type of recipe you’re using. use.

Their nutritional contents are different, but the sugars and consistency of both are similar enough to be substituted in most recipes.  The flavor may be different, but once cooked, it shouldn’t be as noticeable.

Which is healthier?

Both honey and maple syrup have advantages and disadvantages, with both being quite similar in terms of fat and calorie content. Both also have the advantage of containing vitamins and minerals, as well as antioxidants.

The difference in flavor is another factor, with the honey being more floral and the maple syrup being slightly more woody.

When it comes to the sugar and fructose content, maple syrup is the healthier of the two, as it is also lower on the glycemic index.

Either is better than refined white sugar, but if you’re looking for the healthiest, maple syrup is the best option.

Related questions

Can you eat maple syrup straight from the tree?

Maple trees do not produce maple syrup, but they do produce sap. If you were to lick maple sap straight from the tree, you’d be surprised to find that it tastes bitter.

Boiling refinement helps evaporate most of the liquid and concentrates the sugar, giving rise to the sweet taste.

Is honey sweeter than sugar?

If you compare tablespoon for tablespoon, honey is sweeter than sugar, so you will need to reduce the amount of honey you use to match the sweetness you would get using white sugar when making your tea or coffee.

Honey vs. Maple Syrup

There are some differences between honey and maple syrup, such as their flavor profiles, their nutritional content, and how they are made. Both are popularly used as an alternative to refined sugar, and both are a healthier option compared to sugar.

Not only can you use both honey and maple syrup to sweeten your morning tea and coffee, but they can substitute for each other when cooking, baking, and drizzling on waffles and pancakes .

If you’re more concerned with which is healthier, you should go for maple syrup as it contains less sugar and fat, but both are good choices for a healthier sweetener.