Love maple syrup? Here's 5 reasons to love it even more.

Monique Calello, Staunton News Leader
·2 min read
Eric Smith from Eagle's Sugar Camp explains how they grade the syrup during the 61st annual Virginia Highland Maple Festival on Sunday, March 17, 2019.
Eric Smith from Eagle's Sugar Camp explains how they grade the syrup during the 61st annual Virginia Highland Maple Festival on Sunday, March 17, 2019.

HIGHLAND COUNTY – Is there anything better than French toast and pancakes with maple syrup? It's a celebration of sweet and savory, epitomizing the warmth of comfort food and slowing down to spend breakfast with family or a leisurely Sunday brunch with friends.

If you love maple syrup, here's five reasons (and a feel-good bonus) to love it even more.

1. Like farm to table food, 'pure' maple syrup is tree to table

Pure maple syrup contains no preservatives.

No artificial flavoring.

No coloring. That beautiful color is the real deal.

2. Maple syrup is sold in shades of 'amber'

Light amber has a fine, delicate flavor.

Medium amber has a richer flavor and is most frequently used as table syrup.

Dark amber is used for cooking, or as a table syrup by those who prefer a strong maple flavor.

3. Maple syrup is loaded with nutrients

Maple syrup contains iron, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus.

It also has a higher calcium content than milk.

It also contains small amounts of amino acids, proteins, and vitamins B2, B5 and niacin.

4. Maple syrup on its own is diet friendly

Pure maple syrup is fat free.

Maple syrup only has 40 calories per tablespoon.

Honey has 45, white sugar has 55 and corn sugar has 60.

5. Maple syrup is so much more than pancakes

Jackie Wade of the Mill Gap Ruritans dips donuts into a mixture of confectioners sugar, water and maple flavoring in Monterey during the Maple Festival in Highland County.
Jackie Wade of the Mill Gap Ruritans dips donuts into a mixture of confectioners sugar, water and maple flavoring in Monterey during the Maple Festival in Highland County.

Here's some of the ways you can get your maple syrup fix:

  • Maple syrup donuts

  • Maple syrup ice cream

  • Maple syrup candies

  • Maple-glazed bacon. Get the recipe for baked beans and maple-glazed bacon here.

  • Candied sweet potatoes. Try using it with butternut squash the next time you're making a holiday side dish.

  • Mix with soy sauce or ginger to create a savory salmon dinner. Get the recipe for salmon with a maple syrup ginger here.

  • And of course, pancakes and French toast. Always.

Feel-good bonus

Correct tapping methods cause no permanent damage to maple sugar trees.

Want to see how it's done and where you can get the good stuff? Head over to Highland County and go on a free sugar camp tour at the Highland County Maple Festival.

Owner of Eagle's Sugar Camp Jay Eagle during the 61st annual Virginia Highland Maple Festival on Sunday, March 17, 2019.
Owner of Eagle's Sugar Camp Jay Eagle during the 61st annual Virginia Highland Maple Festival on Sunday, March 17, 2019.

More: Waynesboro Schools teaming with Project GROWS to continue building farm program

Reporter Monique Calello can be reached at mcalello@newsleader.com. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Love maple syrup? Here's 5 reasons to love it even more.