Is Kirkland real maple syrup?

Kirkland Signature is Costco’s in-house brand for various products sold at Costco warehouses. One of their products is Kirkland Signature Organic Maple Syrup, which comes in a glass bottle and is sold at a very reasonable price compared to other brands of real maple syrup. There has been some debate among consumers as to whether Kirkland’s maple syrup is authentic, 100% real maple syrup or just maple-flavored corn syrup. In this article, we will examine the ingredients, production process, and taste of Kirkland organic maple syrup to determine if it can be considered real maple syrup.

What makes maple syrup real?

True maple syrup comes from the sap of maple trees, most commonly sugar maple, red maple, and black maple trees. Maple sap consists mostly of water and some natural sugar. The sap is collected from maple trees, boiled down to evaporate the water, and condensed into a sugary syrup.

For a maple syrup to be considered 100% pure, authentic maple syrup, it must be made exclusively from maple sap and contain no artificial flavors, colors, or additives of any kind. The FDA has established a Grade A standard for pure maple syrup that requires the following criteria:

• Must be produced from maple tree sap
• May not contain any additives, artificial flavors, or colors
• Must have a maple flavor and aroma
• Must have at least 66% natural sugar content
• Must be labeled as maple syrup, not just “syrup”
• Must not be blended with corn syrup, pancake syrup, or other non-maple products

Any product labeled as maple syrup that does not meet these standards would be considered an “imitation” or not real maple syrup.

Ingredients in Kirkland Organic Maple Syrup

To determine if Kirkland organic maple syrup is real, we need to look at the ingredient list printed on the bottle.

The main ingredients listed on a bottle of Kirkland Organic Maple Syrup are:

• Organic Maple Syrup
• Water
• Organic Maple Sugar
• Sea Salt

Most notably, the first two ingredients are organic maple syrup and water. Unlike commercial “maple-flavored” syrups, Kirkland’s syrup does not contain high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavorings. The only additional ingredients are small amounts of organic maple sugar and sea salt.

Based on the simple, all-natural ingredient list, Kirkland’s organic maple syrup meets the requirements for real maple syrup and does not contain any artificial additives or maple “flavoring.”

Production Process for Kirkland Organic Maple Syrup

True maple syrup must come from the sap harvested from maple trees. So how does Costco produce Kirkland brand maple syrup?

Maple Sap Collection

According to the details on the Kirkland bottle label, their maple syrup is harvested from maple trees on family farms in Vermont – one of the major maple syrup producing regions in North America. The maple sap is collected directly from sugar maple trees through a tap and bucket sap collection process. No artificial sap substitutes are used.

Boiling the Sap

Once collected, the maple sap must be boiled down to evaporate off excess water, leaving behind the concentrated sugary syrup. Kirkland maple syrup is boiled in smaller batches for better flavor.

Filtering and Grading

After boiling, the maple syrup is filtered, graded, and bottled. Kirkland Organic Maple Syrup is not blended with any other ingredients and is labeled as Grade A Dark Amber maple syrup, meeting purity standards for real maple.

Bottling and Labeling

The 100% pure organic maple syrup is finally bottled in glass jugs and labeled as USDA Organic Certified. The valid organic certification indicates no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors have been added during processing and bottling.

Taste Test of Kirkland Organic Maple Syrup

The real test of authentic maple syrup is in the taste and flavor. Pure maple syrup has a distinctive sweet and robust maple taste. It is thicker in texture and darker in color compared to imitation syrups.

Tasting Kirkland organic maple syrup reveals rich maple notes in aroma and flavor. It has a pleasantly sweet but not overwhelmingly sugary taste. The syrup is thick and viscous, making it a good topping for pancakes and waffles. There are no “off” flavors that would indicate artificial additives.

In direct side-by-side taste comparisons with other real maple syrup brands like Aunt Jemima and Mrs. Butterworth’s, the Kirkland organic syrup tastes equivalent in quality and maple flavor. The flavor is noticeably superior to imitation syrup, which tends to taste thin, artificial, and overly sweet.

Color and Grading of Kirkland Organic Maple Syrup

According to the International Maple Syrup Institute (IMSI), real maple syrup is classified into four grades based on color and flavor:

Grade	Color	Flavor
Grade A Light Amber	Light gold	Mild maple taste
Grade A Medium Amber	Slightly darker gold	Richer maple flavor
Grade A Dark Amber	Dark brown	Robust, maple flavor
Grade B	Very dark brown	Strong maple flavor

The darker grades have a more intense maple flavor as they come from sap boiled longer. Kirkland Signature organic syrup is categorized as Grade A Dark Amber, indicating it is real maple syrup with a robust maple taste.

Nutrition Facts for Kirkland Organic Maple Syrup

Analyzing the nutrition label on Kirkland organic maple syrup also supports that it is real rather than imitation syrup:

Serving Size	1/4 cup (60ml)
Calories	200
Sugars	51g
Protein	0g
Total Carbohydrates	54g

Real maple syrup is made of about 67% sucrose, so a 60 ml serving would contain around 50-55 grams of sugars, mainly sucrose and fructose. Imitation syrups are usually mostly corn syrup (glucose).

The nutrition figures for Kirkland organic maple syrup – with 51g sugars per 60ml – align with pure maple syrup and indicate the natural sugar content from maple sap.

Cost of Kirkland Organic Maple Syrup

Kirkland Signature Organic Maple Syrup sells for $13.99 for a 946ml (32oz) bottle.

Compared to 32oz bottles of other maple syrup brands:

• Aunt Jemima Original Syrup – $8.98
• Mrs. Butterworth’s Original – $10.98
• Vermont Maple Syrup – $25.99
• Crown Maple Syrup – $32.95

At less than $1 per ounce, Kirkland organic maple syrup provides a good value compared to cheap imitation syrups and premium all-natural brands. The pricing fits with Costco’s business model of offering quality products at a competitive lower price point.

The fact that it is priced considerably higher than imitation syrups like Aunt Jemima indicates real maple syrup production costs rather than being a super cheap corn syrup product.

Packaging of Kirkland Organic Maple Syrup

Kirkland Signature Organic Maple Syrup comes in a clear glass bottle with a metal lid and plastic pour spout. The packaging looks high quality and comparable to other maple syrup brands sold in glass jugs.

The clear glass allows you to see the thick, dark amber maple syrup inside. The bottle shape and material is typical for pure maple syrup, while imitation syrups tend to use plastic bottles.

All ingredients and facts are clearly printed on the label, along with a USDA organic certification seal. The packaging provides all details needed to verify the authenticity of the syrup.

Where is Kirkland maple syrup produced?

The back label states that Kirkland Signature Organic Maple Syrup is “Processed in Vermont.”

The use of maple sap harvested from Vermont maple trees aligns with the state being the largest producer of maple syrup in the United States. Vermont makes about 2 million gallons of syrup each year, amounting to about 40% of total U.S. maple syrup production.

Vermont also has strict laws governing the quality and labeling of maple syrup. So maple syrup bottled and sold from Vermont must adhere to high production standards.

The Vermont origin helps support the syrup’s authenticity versus being a mass-produced, artificial product.

Is Costco’s Kirkland maple syrup ethically sourced?

Costco states that all its Kirkland Signature products must meet high ethical sourcing standards:

• No child or forced labor
• Safe working conditions
• No discrimination or abuse
• Freedom to associate
• Meet all legal standards
• Environmental protections

For the organic maple syrup, the USDA organic certification means the maple trees and sap harvesting meet certified organic farming practices.

The back label also states it is Non-GMO Project Verified. Genetic engineering is prohibited for certified organic foods.

As a product of Vermont, Kirkland organic maple syrup would be produced under the state’s sustainable tapping practices. Vermont regulations limit the size and placement of taps in maple trees to protect tree health.

Given Costco’s stated supplier policies and Vermont’s maple syrup production standards, Kirkland brand maple syrup appears to come from an ethical and sustainable source.

Is Kirkland maple syrup gluten-free and vegan?

Kirkland Signature Organic Maple Syrup would meet standards for a gluten-free and vegan product:

• It is produced from maple sap, filtered water, and minimal natural ingredients like maple sugar and sea salt.
• There are no gluten-containing ingredients like wheat, barley, rye or malt.
• No animal derived ingredients like dairy, eggs, or honey.
• Certified USDA Organic meaning no animal by-products as filter aids.

The simple ingredients and organic certification qualify it as a gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian-friendly product. Those with food sensitivities can enjoy Kirkland organic maple syrup.

Does Kirkland maple syrup expire or go bad?

With proper storage, pure maple syrup can remain fresh for many years. The high sugar content prevents microbial growth.

Unopened, Kirkland organic maple syrup will stay safe indefinitely when stored in a cool, dry place. An unopened bottle kept in the refrigerator or freezer will last even longer.

Once opened, it’s best to refrigerate maple syrup. Refrigerated, the syrup will stay fresh for 12-24 months.

Signs that opened maple syrup has gone bad include mold, fermentation bubbles, a sour smell or taste, separation or thinning of texture.

With refrigeration after opening, Kirkland maple syrup should retain quality and flavor for at least a year past the best by date printed on the bottle.

How to spot imitation maple syrup?

It can be tricky identifying real versus fake maple syrup just by looking at the bottle. Here are a few tips:

• Check the ingredients list for maple syrup vs. corn syrup.
• Imitation syrups will often use the words “maple flavored.”
• Lower price can indicate artificial syrup.
• Lighter colors are more common with imitation syrups.
• Contains additives like caramel coloring, cellulose, preservatives.
• Won’t have a grade marking like Grade A.
• May seem thinner and pour faster than pure maple syrup.
• Cheaper plastic bottles over glass.

The best way to identify real maple syrup is to look for the Grade A designation along with ingredients listing just maple syrup and water.

Conclusion

Based on analysis of the ingredients, production method, price, taste, nutrition, and packaging – Kirkland Signature Organic Maple Syrup sold at Costco appears to meet all the requirements to be considered 100% real, pure maple syrup.

The organic Kirkland brand maple syrup:

• Is made solely from maple sap harvested from Vermont sugar maple trees.
• Uses a traditional maple syrup production process of boiling, filtering and grading.
• Has a distinct sweet, rich maple syrup flavor absent any “off” tastes.
• Is darker amber in color with a thick, viscous texture.
• Contains expected levels of natural sugars found in maple syrup.
• Is affordably priced compared to pure maple syrup.
• Is bottled in clear jugs showing the Grade A Dark Amber syrup inside.
• Is labeled as USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified.

Kirkland’s organic maple syrup meets all the FDA standards for Grade A, real maple syrup, and shows no evidence of containing artificial components, additives, flavors, or thinning agents. Based on the criteria for authentic maple syrup, Kirkland Signature organic syrup sold at Costco can be considered 100% real maple syrup.