The USDA syrup grading system uses five different maple grades. Three graded A; Grade A Light Amber, Grade A Medium Amber, Grade A Dark Amber and two darker syrups, Grade B maple syrup and Commercial Grade. These grades have specific and important upper and lower limits for color and flavor. As a rule, the darker the color, the stronger the flavor. Individual preference for a particular grade of maple syrup is similar to that of the wine consumer; some people prefer reds, some whites, some blush and so on. Grade A Light Amber has a very delicate maple flavor. Medium Amber has a nice mild flavor. Grade A Dark Amber has a full-bodied maple flavor while Grade B - including Grade B organic maple syrup - has a hearty, robust flavor. All are great on pancakes and waffles but the extra flavor in Grade A Dark Amber and Grade B maple syrup allow these two to be of great use as an ingredient as well.
Maple grade consistency is crucial to food manufacturers, chefs and private label marketers alike. Because Bascom Family Farms maintains the strictest grading standards in the maple manufacturing industry, we can assure you that the batch quality of every product we make will maintain its all-important flavor profile year after year.
While we grade maple by the basic five USDA grades, we employ an even tougher blending and grading system. Bascom Family Farms' "seven-tier" grading standard produces 35 grades that ensure each manufacturer gets the exact flavor profile they need. Our "seven-tiered" grading standard is stringent and steadfast. It segregates the maple syrup by flavor profile for optimal quality assurance and consumer satisfaction. We do this because, just like wine, maple syrup varies slightly from grower to grower and from region to region every year. Our unique proprietary grading process allows us to formulate those subtleties out so manufacturers and private label marketers get a consistent product with the correct flavor profile every time. Let Bascom Family Farms be your maple source... you can count on us!
| Maple syrup Grades in the United States and Canada Designation based on the percent of light transmittance |
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| % Light Transmission | Canada & Quebec Federal | United States |
| Not less than 75% Tc | No. 1 Extra Light/ or AA | Grade A Light Amber |
| Between 60.5% & 74.9% Tc | No. 1 Light/ Grade A or A | Grade A Med. Amber |
| Between 44% & 60.9% Tc | No. 1 Med./ Grade A or B | Grade A Dark Amber |
| Between 27% & 43.9% Tc | No. 2 Amber/ or C | Grade B |
| Less than 27% Tc | No. 3 Dark/ or D | |