Trader Joe’s Pantry: Maple Agave Syrup Blend

On our last trip to Trader Joe’s, we were reaching for a bottle of maple syrup when we noticed a new maple-agave syrup blend. We were a bit skeptical, but at nearly half the cost of the pure stuff, we thought we’d give it a try.

Maple syrup season is now underway, but prices have risen as high as $60 a gallon in some areas thanks to overall short supply due to a poor syrup season in Canada last year. At our Trader Joe’s in Chicago, a small bottle of Grade B pure maple syrup is still about $6, but the maple-agave blend was only $3.

The product is a blend of evaporated cane juice, maple syrup and agave syrup, in that order. The color is similar to a Grade A light amber, but it still packs a strong maple taste. It’s not as rich as pure maple syrup, but we tried it on French toast and didn’t use any more than usual and were satisfied with the flavor.

For maple syrup purists, it may not do the trick, but the blend is still heads and shoulders above any imitation syrup and, for our dollar, a good bargain.

It’s Poultry Week, so why not give it a try with some chicken and waffles?

More

• Traverse City Record-Eagle: Sticky Business: It’s time for syrup
• Chicago Tribune: Chicago Maple Syrup a Precious Commodity

Related: Maple Syrup Grades: Sometimes B stands for Better

(Image: Joanna Miller)