# Why is maple flavor by far the most popular flavor for breakfast syrups in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 11, 2018, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924 "2018-06-11T23:01:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/21 "2018-06-12T03:15:45Z")
Another one who after being raised on the fake stuff was disappointed with the real stuff, though I did adjust over time to come to appreciate it and unappreciate the other stuff. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/22 "2018-06-12T03:41:32Z")
My mom used to make her own pancake syrup when we were on a food stamp diet. White sugar, brown sugar, water and vanilla. So I of course grew up ignorant of “Real Maple Syrup” was and was delighted to even find something as decadent as Mrs. Butterworth in our kitchen. Now 30 years later I’m seeing a dude who’s family is one of the top maple syrup families in the area (Ohio is America’s 7th highest producer of maple syrup!) and I’m not into their syrup at all. I’ve gotten one bottle of their good stuff over the years and it was just ok. Plus I’m diabetic so I couldn’t even get in to it if I wanted to. I am happy with my Splenda-and-caramel-color “syrup.” Does anyone know what country is the third largest consumer of real maple syrup, after the US and Canada? Do any other countries eat north-american-style pancakes (not crepes)? What do they use? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/23 "2018-06-12T03:42:36Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Only the best $6.00 per ounce maple syrup on the Kroger brand waffles I feed to MY snowflakes, thankyouverymuch. Hmmm, we may have to expand this to “what should I put maple syrup on?” I was lucky enough to marry a Seattle-ite, so I’ve been introduced to Krusteaz pancake mix (and Snoqualmie Falls Oatmeal). Got a large rectangular griddle that fits over two of the gas burners on our stove, so I can mix up a batch of tasty dough and churn out enough pancakes for an entire sleep-over in a few minutes. And introduce everyone to warm Real Maple Syrup (but I heat up some fake stuff, too, for the kids who prefer that… they’d probably prefer Kroger waffles to my pancakes, too, but sorry, kids). ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/24 "2018-06-12T04:58:26Z")
Just to clarify: I’m not asking why there’s a bunch of fake maple syrup out there. I’m pretty clear on the concept of cheap substitution. I’m wondering why maple at all —real or fake —when there are theoretically other flavors of syrup (real or imitation) that could’ve been more popular. “Marketing” makes sense, of course, though the specifics would be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/25 "2018-06-12T05:01:07Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > I’ll take marmalade or lemon curd on my pancakes if we must have them. Yeah, lemon curd is tops for me, and almost any fruit compote is second place. I’m also someone who grew up eating faux maple syrup and liking that fine. Real maple took some getting used to. (And I still serve the fake stuff for weekend pancakes or waffles with the kids.) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/26 "2018-06-12T05:13:11Z")
> [@Interrobang](#): > > Across the US, maple syrup pretty much comes as a standard side with any order of pancakes, waffles, or French toast. Cite? What you say here is what I thought I remembered from my childhood, but nowadays, whenever I pay attention, any “standard” syrup I see doesn’t claim to be maple syrup, or even to be “maple flavored” or “imitation maple” or anything like that. It’s just called “syrup” or “pancake syrup” or something generic like that. You can buy maple syrup in the store, but it’s significantly more expensive than “pancake syrup.” Did actual maple (or at least maple-flavored) syrup use to be more common than it is nowadays? Or did people use the word “maple” to describe syrup that wasn’t actually maple at all? Or am I just misremembering? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/27 "2018-06-12T05:13:36Z")
For me it’s simply that I prefer the taste over the various berry flavored syrups. Regarding real vs fake; I was raised on Log Cabin and I’ll use that or others, like Mrs. Butterworth, if they’re what’s available but I definitely prefer the real thing. I _think_ Log Cabin had some percentage of real maple syrup when I was a child. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/28 "2018-06-12T05:35:52Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Hmmm, we may have to expand this to “what should I put maple syrup on?” > > I was lucky enough to marry a Seattle-ite, so I’ve been introduced to Krusteaz pancake mix (and Snoqualmie Falls Oatmeal). Got a large rectangular griddle that fits over two of the gas burners on our stove, so I can mix up a batch of tasty dough and churn out enough pancakes for an entire sleep-over in a few minutes. And introduce everyone to warm Real Maple Syrup (but I heat up some fake stuff, too, for the kids who prefer that… they’d probably prefer Kroger waffles to my pancakes, too, but sorry, kids). Sarcasm=Lost ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/29 "2018-06-12T05:36:53Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Did actual maple (or at least maple-flavored) syrup use to be more common than it is nowadays? Or did people use the word “maple” to describe syrup that wasn’t actually maple at all? Or am I just misremembering? I am, to the horror of purists everywhere, using “maple syrup” to describe both actual maple syrup and maple-flavored pancake syrup. Mostly because what I’m interested in is the flavor, not the quality of the syrup —why is maple, whether natural or artificial, the popular flavor. (Granted that there’s a clear taste distinction between natural and artificial maple, but fake maple is still trying to approximate the same flavor.) You do make a good point about “pancake syrup” though —I grew up calling Mrs Butterworths and Log Cabin and similar syrups “maple syrup,” and I have no idea if they used to actually use the word “maple” in their marketing or if that’s just a regionalism. (It’s relatively common, though, because Google autocomplete suggests “maple syrup” in searches for all those brands —so other people are using “maple” to describe them even if the manufacturers aren’t.) ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/30 "2018-06-12T05:40:55Z")
> [@Interrobang](#): > > I am, to the horror of purists everywhere, using “maple syrup” to describe both actual maple syrup and maple-flavored pancake syrup. Mostly because what I’m interested in is the flavor, not the quality of the syrup —why is maple, whether natural or artificial, the popular flavor. > > (Granted that there’s a clear taste distinction between natural and artificial maple, but fake maple is still trying to approximate the same flavor.) True, but in reality, it doesn’t really come that close. It tastes like flavoring agents, whereas pure maple tastes like…pure sweet goodness from a tree. I know that sounds lame, but it’s true. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/31 "2018-06-12T08:13:47Z")
Real Maple Syrup tastes to me like someone mixed some gasoline in with corn syrup. Mm, yum. I also don’t like alcohol because, again, it tastes like gasoline (this time minus the sugar). So my guess for why people like maple syrup? Because most people like alcohol and it reminds them of that. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/32 "2018-06-12T08:16:44Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Real Maple Syrup tastes to me like someone mixed some gasoline in with corn syrup. Mm, yum. > > I also don’t like alcohol because, again, it tastes like gasoline (this time minus the sugar). > > So my guess for why people like maple syrup? Because most people like alcohol and it reminds them of that. I have to suspect that your smelling/tasting note of maple syrup including “gasoline” isn’t going to be super common. And that’s cool, you know, everyone is different! Maybe I live a sheltered life but I’ve not heard that descriptor for pure maple described in that way. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/33 "2018-06-12T08:26:36Z")
> [@Interrobang](#): > > Just to clarify: > > I’m not asking why there’s a bunch of fake maple syrup out there. I’m pretty clear on the concept of cheap substitution. > > I’m wondering why maple at all —real or fake —when there are theoretically other flavors of syrup (real or imitation) that could’ve been more popular. > > “Marketing” makes sense, of course, though the specifics would be interesting. Because maple sugar produced domestically was once cheaper than cane sugar imported from the Caribbean. Later, maple syrup and maple sugar were used during the American Civil War and by abolitionists in the years before the war because most cane sugar and molasses were produced by Southern slaves. Because of food rationing during the Second World War, people in the northeastern United States were encouraged to stretch their sugar rations by sweetening foods with maple syrup and maple sugar, and recipe books were printed to help housewives employ this alternative source. > **[Maple syrup](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple_syrup?wprov=sfla1)** > > Maple syrup is a syrup made from the sap of maple trees. In cold climates, these trees store starch in their trunks and roots before winter; the starch is then converted to sugar that rises in the sap in late winter and early spring. Maple trees are tapped by drilling holes into their trunks and collecting the sap, which is processed by heating to evaporate much of the water, leaving the concentrated syrup. > Maple syrup was first made by the Indigenous peoples of Northeastern North America. T... ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/34 "2018-06-12T09:13:17Z")
> [@Interrobang](#): > > Just to clarify: > > I’m not asking why there’s a bunch of fake maple syrup out there. I’m pretty clear on the concept of cheap substitution. > > I’m wondering why maple at all —real or fake —when there are theoretically other flavors of syrup (real or imitation) that could’ve been more popular. > > “Marketing” makes sense, of course, though the specifics would be interesting. Hi **Interrobang!?**. Here in the SDMB we will rehash old discussions a hundred times before pondering an unfamiliar question. Hell, we can’t even see some questions if they use certain key familiar words. So, let me ponder… I have no idea, beyond I prefer the taste. The lack of tart, fruity notes lets the flavor of the butter and griddle cake come through. My own question: what is defining taste of waffles and pancakes that distinguish them from other breads and rolls? Is it just a textural difference? Related topics: Why is cola flavor so effective in soft drinks, but otherwise rarely used? Same thing for coffee and tea flavors: they show up in a few candies, but are tiny players… why? Why is vanilla a huge star as an ice cream flavor, and otherwise a supporting actor? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/35 "2018-06-12T11:27:08Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > There are essentially two kinds of breakfast syrup: maple syrup and flavored corn syrup. Golden syrup is a cane sugar product (or beets) > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Do any other countries eat north-american-style pancakes (not crepes)? Sure, you can get them at a couple fast food places and other restaurants here > [@](#): > > What do they use? “Maple-flavoured” syrup for any but the high-end places. You can get the real stuff in supermarkets. But I doubt South Africa’s more than noise on international syrup sales charts. I think either Germany or Japan are likely no. 3 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/36 "2018-06-12T12:15:23Z")
A local guy taps trees and makes syrup every few years. We’ve given him the OK to tap our trees and as a thank-you we get a bottle. We are stingy with the stuff in an attempt to make it last till the next batch. I do not buy the fake stuff anymore, it’s the real thing or nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/37 "2018-06-12T13:02:39Z")
> [@Interrobang](#): > > You do make a good point about “pancake syrup” though —I grew up calling Mrs Butterworths and Log Cabin and similar syrups “maple syrup,” and I have no idea if they used to actually use the word “maple” in their marketing or if that’s just a regionalism. (It’s relatively common, though, because Google autocomplete suggests “maple syrup” in searches for all those brands —so other people are using “maple” to describe them even if the manufacturers aren’t.) According [to this page](http://marketingmama.com/when-pancake-syrup-isnt-really-syrup), Log Cabin and Hungry Jack explicitly list maple flavoring in their ingredients. Aunt Jemima and Mrs Butterworth do not and, looking at their websites, neither seems to use the word “maple” anywhere. However, in a blind taste test, I’d bet that most people would just consider them all “syrup” and largely approximate to one another. I suspect the “artificial and natural flavorings” in the AJ & MrsB are to simulate maple flavorings. By the way, I ignored all the woo-hysteria stuff from that website and only linked to it because it lists all the major brand syrup ingredients in one place. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/38 "2018-06-12T13:15:03Z")
> [@Interrobang](#): > > I’m wondering why maple at all —real or fake —when there are theoretically other flavors of syrup (real or imitation) that could’ve been more popular. My suspicion is that back in the day, maple syrup was common in the northern parts of the US, and stuff like honey, sorghum syrup, molasses, and cane syrup were common in the southern parts of the US, because they were cheap (local agricultural products/by-products), while refined sugar (what you’d have to use to make fruit syrups) was expensive. I think over time, maple syrup became predominant- maybe people liked it better, maybe it held some sort of higher socioeconomic status, maybe it was more prized because it was rare, or whatever. So when cheaper sugars and corn syrup made fruit syrups and imitation maple syrups practical and cheap, maple was the choice for the flavoring. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/39 "2018-06-12T14:35:25Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > True, but in reality, it doesn’t really come that close. It tastes like flavoring agents, whereas pure maple tastes like…pure sweet goodness from a tree… Mmm… just quoting that to remind us of the point of this thread. Real maple is tasty. > [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Only the best $6.00 per ounce maple syrup on the Kroger brand waffles I feed to MY snowflakes, thankyouverymuch. And quoting that because I laughed. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2018, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924/40 "2018-06-12T14:50:22Z")
I think part of the popularity compared to other flavours is because maple is a “real” syrup flavour. Sort of like how it would be easy to make imitation “bacon bits” in all kinds of different and exotic flavours, but even if they did, most people would stick with what feels normal to them. Also, putting actual fruit on waffles or pancakes is “a thing”, and maybe imitation fruit gets embarrassed next to real fruit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-maple-flavor-by-far-the-most-popular-flavor-for-breakfast-syrups-in-the-us/815924.md?page=3)