I tried maple syrups from supermarkets and the winner tastes like caramel

Maple syrup is a premium ingredient, great for drizzling over pancakes, adding to bakes and puddings, or serving with ice cream. In my home, it's a kitchen staple, often used as an alternative to refined sugar in cakes and sweet treats. That said, maple syrup can be pricey, and it's not always easy to tell whether you're buying the real thing or a substitute.

With this in mind, I set out to find the best supermarket maple syrup by testing five different products. I tried own-label syrups from Sainsbury's, Aldi and Co-op, plus branded options from Buckwud and Maple Crest. To keep things consistent, I rated each syrup on taste, cost and packaging, trying each one straight from the bottle with a small spoonful.

How can you tell if maple syrup is real? Genuine maple syrup has just one ingredient: 100% pure maple syrup or maple sap.

Any extras, such as corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, water or carob syrup, mean it's an imitation product. Some bottles are labelled 'maple-flavoured syrup', which means they use maple flavouring rather than real maple syrup.

Others may be blended with carob syrup to cut costs. What is Grade A maple syrup?

I've often seen 'Grade A' on maple syrup labels but never fully understood what it meant — until now. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Grade A maple syrup must meet strict standards: no more than 68.9% solids by weight, a consistent colour, a good maple flavour and aroma, and no off-flavours, odours, cloudiness or sediment.

Any syrup that falls short or is damaged cannot carry this grade. Grade A is split into four colour categories: Golden, Amber, Dark, and Very Dark, as set out by Maple From Canada. This isn't something I'd noticed on UK maple syrup labels before, but testing five syrups side by side helped me pick up on subtle differences in colour and taste.

Golden maple syrup, harvested early in the season, is light and mild. It's available in some UK supermarkets, but not common.

Amber syrup, tapped mid-season, has a fuller flavour and is the most widely stocked variety in UK shops. It works well with pancakes and drinks.

Dark maple syrup, harvested later in the season, has a stronger, bolder flavour and is good for cooking, though it's harder to find in UK supermarkets. Very dark maple syrup, made at the end of the harvest, is thick and intensely flavoured — ideal for baking or desserts, but rarer than amber in UK stores. Nearly all the syrups I found and tested were Grade A amber maple syrups.

• 1. Buckwud Organic Intense Canadian Maple Syrup, £6.20 for 250g (£2.48 per 100g) (Sainsbury's)

I didn't expect a branded maple syrup to taste that different from supermarket own-label versions, but this one surprised me. It was the only dark maple syrup in my test, and it tasted great.

Unlike the amber syrups, it had a deeper, caramel-like flavour that was lovely on its own and even better over pancakes. The maple taste is more pronounced and less sweet, which I preferred.

It also won a 3-star award at the Great Taste Awards in 2022. The packaging impressed me too.

The lid was easy to use, and the classic bottle looked good. Yes, it's the most expensive syrup I've tried, but in my opinion, it's worth it.

Score: 5/5

• 2. Aldi Specially Selected 100% Pure Canadian Maple Syrup, £3.99 for 330g (£1.60 per 100ml)

Aldi's maple syrup is the best value — it's the largest and cheapest of the five. It's a regular in my kitchen, perfect for granola, pancakes or baking.

It has a pleasant maple flavour with a hint of caramel and isn't too sweet. I also liked the bigger bottle, the easy flip-top lid, and the classic look of the packaging.

Score: 4/5

• 3. Maple Crest Maple Syrup, £4 for 250g (£1.60 per 100g) (Sainsbury's)

I liked Maple Crest's syrup and would have rated it higher if not for the screw-top lid, which can be fiddly and prone to spills if not closed properly. It's similar to Buckwud's, but slightly less intense.

It's not entirely clear whether this syrup is amber or dark, though the Sainsbury's website says it is "expertly harvested late in the season," which suggests it could be dark. For me, it didn't feel quite as full-bodied as Buckwud's and lacked those caramel notes. Still, it's a decent choice if you want to try a darker syrup without going too bold, and the price is reasonable.

Score: 3.5/5

• 4. Sainsbury's Canadian Maple Syrup, Taste the Difference, £5.20 for 250g (£2.08 per 100g)

Sainsbury's Taste the Difference amber maple syrup has a nice aroma and a good maple flavour that isn't overly sweet. The cap is easy to use and the texture is just right.

It's a solid, reliable option, though it feels slightly overpriced for a supermarket own-brand. Score: 3/5

• 5. Co-op Pure Canadian Maple Syrup, £5.25 for 250g (£2.10 per 100g)

This was my least favourite of the five. It's perfectly fine, but nothing special. The maple flavour is there, but it's not bold enough for my taste and reminded me more of a sugar syrup, even though it isn't.

The screw-top lid was fiddly, and the price feels high for what you get. It'll do in a pinch, but don't expect to be wowed.

Score: 2.5/5

The verdict

Buckwud Organic Intense Canadian Maple Syrup had the best flavour of the five, especially if you enjoy a rich, caramel-tinged taste with a strong maple character. Aldi's Maple Syrup is the top pick among supermarket own-brands and offers the best value for money.