Maple Syrup vs Honey
Maple Syrup vs Honey: What’s the Difference?
Maple syrup and honey are two of the most popular natural sweeteners — and they’re often compared as if one must be “better” than the other.
The reality: maple syrup and honey are different foods with different strengths, best uses, and tradeoffs.
This guide breaks down maple syrup vs honey in plain terms — taste, nutrition, processing, use cases, and how to choose the right one for your needs.
What Maple Syrup and Honey Actually Are
Maple syrup is made by collecting sap from maple trees and boiling off the water until the sugars concentrate. It’s a seasonal product, harvested during a short window each year.
Honey is made by bees collecting nectar from flowers, enzymatically transforming it, and storing it in honeycombs. It can be produced across many regions and seasons, depending on floral sources.
If you want regional context on maple syrup specifically, start here: Michigan Maple Syrup.
Taste & Flavor Differences
Flavor is where maple syrup and honey diverge most.
- Maple syrup: smooth sweetness with caramel, vanilla, and woodsy notes that deepen from light to dark grades.
- Honey: floral, aromatic, and highly variable depending on the nectar source.
Maple syrup flavor is tied to tree species, season, and grade. Honey flavor depends on flowers, geography, and even weather.
If you’re curious how maple syrup flavor changes by grade, see: Maple Syrup Grades Explained.
Nutrition: A Practical Comparison
Both maple syrup and honey are primarily sugars and should be treated as such. Neither is a health food, but both contain trace compounds beyond simple sugar.
| Per 1 tablespoon | Maple Syrup | Honey |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | ~52 | ~64 |
| Sugars | ~12g | ~17g |
| Minerals | Small amounts (manganese, riboflavin) | Small amounts (varies by floral source) |
In practice, the nutritional differences are minor. Portion size matters more than which sweetener you choose.
For a deeper health-focused breakdown, read: Is Maple Syrup Healthy?.
Processing & Purity
Pure maple syrup has one ingredient: maple sap, concentrated by boiling.
Pure honey also has one ingredient: honey. However, honey quality varies widely depending on filtration, heating, and handling.
In both cases, labels matter. “Pure maple syrup” and “pure honey” are not the same as flavored syrups or blended sweeteners.
Cooking & Baking Uses
- Maple syrup: baking, marinades, sauces, coffee, oatmeal, pancakes, and anywhere a clean caramel note works.
- Honey: tea, yogurt, dressings, baking where floral sweetness is desired.
Maple syrup tends to hold up better in heat-heavy recipes, while honey shines in no-bake or lightly heated applications.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose maple syrup if you want a consistent, regional flavor tied to a specific season and place.
Choose honey if you enjoy floral variety and want sweetness that reflects flowers rather than trees.
Many people keep both — using each where it shines.
If you want to understand our standards and sourcing, read: Why Our Maple Syrup.
Shop Maple Syrup & Honey
- Browse pure maple syrup here: Maple Syrup Collection.
- Browse honey here: Honey Collection.
- See everything we make: Shop All Products.
- Buying for someone else? Let them choose: Bonz Beach Farms Gift Card.
Related articles
Sources Cited
- American Heart Association. “Added Sugars.” American Heart Association, www.heart.org.
- Harvard Health Publishing. “Are ‘Natural’ Sweeteners Healthier?” Harvard Medical School, www.health.harvard.edu.
- Cleveland Clinic. “Is Maple Syrup Better for You Than Sugar?” Cleveland Clinic, health.clevelandclinic.org.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture. “FoodData Central.” USDA, fdc.nal.usda.gov.