Spotlight Spice: Maple Sugar Powder

This week’s Spotlight Spice is our Maple Sugar Powder. But what is it?  Simply put, it’s maple syrup in powdered form.

Maple Sugar Powder is made by boiling the sap of the sugar maple tree, after it’s passed through the maple syrup and maple taffy (candy) stage. After nearly all the liquid is boiled off, what remains is a solid block of sugar. The sugar block is then allowed to dry and is ground into powder form.

Maple sugar was the preferred form of sweetener for Native Americans due to its portability. It’s remained popular because it’s shelf-stable, isn’t clumpy, and has high mineral content – with lots of manganese, zinc, and potassium.

It’s also easy to use. Simply substitute it for regular ol’ granulated sugar in instances where a bit of maple flavoring would do some good. We recommend trying it on veggies (sweet potatoes are perfect), adding to coffee or tea, incorporating into baked goods, or as a tasty topping for your toast or hot cereal.

If you’re a maple lover, pick up a jar in the shop or online and give it a try!