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Vermont
Maple Open House Weekend
March 19-21,
2004
will be the third annual Vermont Open House Weekend! Over
100 maple sugarhouses will be open to the public for tours,
demonstrations of how maple syrup is made and samples of
syrup and other maple products. For information and locations
see www.Vermontmaple.org
or look at the “2004 Vermont Maple Map” at all
Vermont Welcome Centers and through the Vermont Department
of Tourism & Marketing at www.VermontVacation.com. |
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| State
of Vermont Grades and
Standards for Maple Syrup |
Please Note: The following images give a approximate
guide to the grades of maple syrup as used in Vermont.
A much more accurate guide would be the temporary
grading kits available along with other sugarmaking
supplies, from the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers' Association.
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"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. |
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"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 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. |
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"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 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. |
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"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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Reprinted with permission
from Vermont Maple Sugarmakers Association www.vermontmaple.org.
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