State of Vermont Grading Standards (courtesy www.vtmaple.org)
| “Fancy
Grade” means pure maple syrup which
is free of any material other than pure, clear, clean
liquid maple syrup in sanitary condition; which has a
color no darker than the United States Department of Agriculture’s
visual color standard light amber, and has a color for
light transmittance not less than 75.0%Tc; which has a
delicately sweet, original maple flavor characteristic
of fancy grade; and which has a density ranging from the
equivalent of 36 degrees Baume (66.9 degrees Brix) at
60 degrees Fahrenheit Modulus 145. Fancy Grade maple syrup
shall be free of sugar crystals and shall not be damaged
in any way. |
| “Grade
A Medium Amber” means pure maple syrup
which is free of any material other than pure, clear, clean
liquid maple syrup in sanitary condition; which has a color
no darker than the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
visual standard, medium amber, and has a color for light
transmittance between the range of 74.9%Tc to 60.5%Tc; it
may have a flavor which is more pronounced than that of
Fancy Grade, but which is not strong or unpleasant and must
be of the flavor characteristic of Grade A Medium Amber.
Grade A Medium Amber maple syrup shall be free of sugar
crystals and shall not be damaged in any way. |
| “Grade
A Dark Amber” means pure maple syrup
which is free of any material other than pure, clear, clean
liquid maple syrup in sanitary condition; which has a color
no darker than the United States Department of Agriculture’s
visual standard dark amber, and has a color for light transmittance
between the range of 60.4%Tc to 44.0%Tc; it may have a flavor
which is stronger than that of Grade A Medium Amber, but
which is not sharp, bitter, buddy or off-flavor and must
be of the flavor characteristic of Grade A Dark Amber. Grade
A Dark Amber must meet the density requirement of Fancy
Grade. Grade A Dark Amber maple syrup shall be free of sugar
crystals and shall not be damaged in any way. |
| “Grade
B” means pure maple syrup which is
free of any material other than pure, clean, clear liquid
maple syrup in sanitary condition; which has a color for
light transmittance between the range of 43.9%Tc to 27.0%Tc.
(The United States Department of Agriculture does not have
an approved visual glass comparetor which compares to the
light transmittance of this grade. Thus, for reference purposes
only, a glass comparetor that is equivalent to the light
transmittance of 27.0%Tc, and which may be used, is that
for “Canadian No. 2 (amber)” as said comparetors
were on June 9, 1989); Grade B shall meet the density requirements
of Fancy Grade. Grade B may have a flavor stronger than
Grade A Dark Amber, but shall not be damaged in any way
and Grade B shall be free of sugar crystals. |
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