Have I been brainwashed?

[Exterous]

I love Belgium Waffles. I have always enjoyed the syrup I use with them - yet I kept hearing about how pure maple syrup is better. Not like a little bit better but OMG I can't go back better.

My local grocery store had some '100% pure Grade A Amber Maples syrup' on sale so I figured it was time to try the pure stuff out. I prepared everything and sat down - anticipating this to be one of the best breakfasts of my life.

The waffle was golden brown, drenched with syrup and had little puddles of melted butter everywhere. I cut into the waffle and it's fluffy interior goodness was laid bare before my eyes. With great anticipation I raised my fork and took a bite. It was....



bad. Very bad. Completely lacking in the syrup flavor I have come to enjoy. I figured maybe I just got a bad bite. So i took another another and it was the same thing. I choked down the rest of my ruined meal in silent sadness

So did I buy the wrong type of 100% pure maple syrup? I know there is a grade B out there. Or am I just another lost cause to the great commercial syrup brainwashing machine?

 

[Modelworks]

It could be the syrup but what most people are use to calling syrup is corn syrup with flavorings. The flavors are very different from things like maple syrup.

I like black strap molasses personally. It has a very unique flavor , there is nothing like it when combined with real butter.

 

[biggestmuff]

Yeah, you've been brainwashed into calling them Belgium Waffles. There really is no such critter. What you are eating is nothing like the waffles in Belgium although it probably closely resembles a Brussels waffle. The one you really want are the Liege waffles. NOM! They're made with a stiff, yeast dough; not a runny batter that's typically used.

 

[moshquerade]

There is no way that the maple flavored corn syrup you put on your waffles tastes better than 100% genuine real maple syrup.

How much did you pay for the real syrup?

 

[Modelworks]

There is no way that the maple flavored corn syrup you put on your waffles tastes better than 100% genuine real maple syrup.

How much did you pay for the real syrup?

If he is used to the sugary syrup that stores sell then it tends to numb your taste for things that are less sweet. I know some people that think maple syrup is a bit bitter.

 

[IronWing]

Maple syrup is highly overrated wrt flavor. Mrs. Buttersworth tastes a lot better, but it is HFCS. Michele's syrups taste very good and don't have HFCS. Safeway carries them.

http://www.michelefoods.com/store.html

 

[Exterous]

If he is used to the sugary syrup that stores sell then it tends to numb your taste for things that are less sweet. I know some people that think maple syrup is a bit bitter.

Shit - thats it. It was missing the sweet taste of my normal syrup

 

[Muse]

First of all, pure maple syrup is not what I'd call "commercial" syrup. It's actually from maple trees. Myself, I have a 32 oz jug in my refrigerator I bought at Costco for less than $18. I tend to keep some around, and it seems to keep forever, at least it does refrigerated. I have some Log Cabin, too, it's what I grew up with.

I don't "drench" my pancakes and waffles with syrup or slop big gobs of butter either. I'm obviously more spare than you in that department.

Your negative experience reminds me of the time I visited someone's house in a strange city and they used pure black strap molasses for syrup. Yuck! I cook with it now occasionally, but as a syrup it's torture, IMO.

Don't overdose on syrup and butter, it's not good for you. Experiment some. What the hell did you expect, it's just a meal. If you want a knockout experience, get laid, but beware, it has its dangers! Food is far safer, and as I've heard mentioned, "it's cheap entertainment."
- - - -
Segal's Law: A man with a watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never sure.

 

[IronWing]

There ain't no such thing as too much butter.

 

[Exterous]

There is no way that the maple flavored corn syrup you put on your waffles tastes better than 100% genuine real maple syrup.

How much did you pay for the real syrup?

It was about $7 for a small bottle - on sale from $10. Any recommendations on a different kind to try?

I like black strap molasses personally. It has a very unique flavor , there is nothing like it when combined with real butter

I would be interested in trying that. The downside is that these types of syrup seem to cost a lot more so is there any place where I could get a sampling of different types?

 

[Exterous]

Don't overdose on syrup and butter, it's not good for you. Experiment some. What the hell did you expect, it's just a meal. If you want a knockout experience, get laid, but beware, it has its dangers! Food is far safer, and as I've heard mentioned, "it's cheap entertainment."

lol - well, I've been married for quite a few years so it's the only thing I have left to me!

 

[Modelworks]

Your negative experience reminds me of the time I visited someone's house in a strange city and they used pure black strap molasses for syrup. Yuck! I cook with it now occasionally, but as a syrup it's torture, IMO.

Don't overdose on syrup and butter, it's not good for you. Experiment some. What the hell did you expect, it's just a meal. If you want a knockout experience, get laid, but beware, it has its dangers!

When I was a kid our neighbors grew sugar cane for their own use. There is nothing like eating fresh sugar cane and I guess that is why I like black strap molasses too. That or sorghum on a hot buttermilk biscuit is something I could never pass up.

black strap molasses is also sold in health food stores because it contains 10-18% of the total daily requirements for things like iron, copper, potassium, calcium and more in just 2 teaspoons.

 

[Modelworks]

It was about $7 for a small bottle - on sale from $10. Any recommendations on a different kind to try?



I would be interested in trying that. The downside is that these types of syrup seem to cost a lot more so is there any place where I could get a sampling of different types?

If you have any farmers markets in the area look there. I go to them to get both molasses and honey. Honey is really cheap if you buy direct from the beekeeper. I can get 2lbs of honey here for $7

 

[Muse]

There ain't no such thing as too much butter.

Yeah? Well, the day may come when you have a choice: Cut back, way back on the butter, etc. or start taking Lipitor. I chose the former. To be honest, I don't miss it. I really like the food I eat. Haven't made waffles in quite a while, do have occasional pancakes, usually with a little butter and (not too much) pure maple syrup.

I don't know about the molasses in terms of using it on waffles, biscuits, etc. There is quite a variety at my local market I go to regularly. AFAIK, it's the thing that distinguishes white sugar from brown sugar, and when I figured that out I started making my own brown sugar by simply mixing white sugar with some good molasses. Tastes just like what they sell as brown sugar and it's way cheaper. I keep it in a bottle on a shelf.

If you have any farmers markets in the area look there. I go to them to get both molasses and honey. Honey is really cheap if you buy direct from the beekeeper. I can get 2lbs of honey here for $7

Every time I go to my local farmer's markets I'm disappointed at the prices they charge. Seems I can get everything they sell there cheaper at the local supermarket. My local supermarket is pretty exceptional, though (The Berkeley Bowl).

 

[sandorski]

Sounds like my experience with Maple Syrup as well. I was disappoint. Back to Aunt Jemima Buttery for me, it's a hell of a lot cheaper and has more flavour.

 

[destrekor]

When I was a kid our neighbors grew sugar cane for their own use. There is nothing like eating fresh sugar cane and I guess that is why I like black strap molasses too. That or sorghum on a hot buttermilk biscuit is something I could never pass up.

black strap molasses is also sold in health food stores because it contains 10-18% of the total daily requirements for things like iron, copper, potassium, calcium and more in just 2 teaspoons.

I have never had molasses.
Isn't that veird?

oh, and I love Maple Syrup. I could take it by the tablespoon straight from the bottle.

It was only in high school that I finally discovered maple syrup, and I buy it exclusively now, for whenever I want pancakes, I want maple syrup.

 

[Jeff7]

Yeah, it's definitely a different taste. The main reason I don't use maple syrup is because it's expensive - and I prefer pancakes/waffles to be soaked to saturation.

And ModelWorks mentioned molasses - I've sampled molasses once, and only once. It tastes like someone took sugar, then had Satan gargle with it, and then he spit out an ooze of caramelized sugar and Pure Evil Extract (13% alcohol by volume), which was then jarred and called "molasses."
But that's just like, my opinion, maaaaan.

 

[aircooled]

Yeah, I don't like molasses at all. Real maple syrup is OK as I prefer less-sweet syrup. Actually I prefer jams on my waffles/pancakes rather than syrups.

 

[olds]

I use jam instead of syrup. Jam, not jelly.

 

[Modelworks]

And ModelWorks mentioned molasses - I've sampled molasses once, and only once. It tastes like someone took sugar, then had Satan gargle with it, and then he spit out an ooze of caramelized sugar and Pure Evil Extract (13% alcohol by volume), which was then jarred and called "molasses."
But that's just like, my opinion, maaaaan.

It is a different taste. If you grew up eating processed sugar products and corn syrups then it probably will not be sweet enough. It actually contains less sugar than most other syrups . They cook the sugarcane the first time to get white refined sugar, then you get molasses out of a second cooking of what was left & black strap is syrup that is cooked a third time so it is really concentrated. That is why the nutrients are so high. It is actually safe for diabetics as well because it is a very slow release sugar.

 

[sandorski]

Molasses is merely "ok" on cornbread, I wouldn't ruin waffles or pancakes with it though. That's just nasty. It's an Ingredient(Baked Beans, Ginger Bread, etc) not a syrup.

 

[dmcowen674]

There is no way that the maple flavored corn syrup you put on your waffles tastes better than 100% genuine real maple syrup.

How much did you pay for the real syrup?

Actually I agree with him. If you are used to the artificial syrup when you taste the real deal it is quite a shock to the system.

The two taste nothing like each other.

The really interesting thing about this is in fact the price.

Before Corporations like Monsanto and ADM took over our corn farmers and the Government, corn used to be cheap and that is why syrup got made out of corn syrup instead of maple syrup.

Now that corn is expensive as fuck because of the legal scamming of America, maple syrup is now nearly the same price as the corn syrup based products.

Because I no longer eat corn syrup based products and the price is the same on the store shelf anyway I have gone back to maple syrup on my waffles. It took a couple of meals to get re-acquainted with tasting the real thing but I'm never going back to the fake corn syrup based shit.

 

[techs]

Take it from a Vermonter.
The fake maple syrup in stores is far sweeter than real maple syrup. Most people have only had the fake stuff, and they are anticipating that level of sweetness and when they get less they are disappointed.

While you could have gotten a bad bottle, I would guess not.

However, if you want to have at least some assurance of the quality get a Grade A Amber that is made in Vermont. Vermont has stricter regulations on maple syrup than anywhere else.

 

[dmcowen674]

There ain't no such thing as too much butter.

Your arteries would disagree

 

[Schadenfroh]

Give cane syrup a try, the packaging is not pretty (tin cans), but it sure does taste good.