What Is Authentic Maple Water? A Twelve-Month Shelf-Life Study of the Chemical Composition of Maple Water and Its Biological Activities

Maple water (maple sap) products are produced from sap tapped directly from maple trees, but there is confusion and lack of industry consensus and consumer knowledge as to what constitutes 'authentic' maple water. With an immense potential for growth in the multi-billion dollar functional beverage market, the market promotion of maple water products hinges on establishing standards of identity (SI), which are currently lacking. Herein, we aim to provide publishable SI and compositional chemistry findings of maple water. The chemical composition (including polyphenols, sugars, amino acids, and organic acids) of a pasteurized maple water was monitored over a 12-month (at 0, 4, 8, and 12 months) shelf-life. Furthermore, LC-MS/MS and molecular networking-based methods were developed to identify the phytochemical profile of a maple water extract (MWX) and to compare it to a previously chemically characterized phenolic-enriched maple syrup extract (MSX). Both MSX and MWX have similar phytochemical profiles and chemical characteristics. In addition, MSX and MWX showed moderate antioxidant capacity (in free radical scavenging and anti-tyrosinase assays) and anti-inflammatory effects (in soluble epoxide hydrolase and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition assays). Our findings provide critical information on the SI and stability (in chemical composition) of maple water, which will help define, authenticate, and distinguish it from other functional beverages, thereby positioning the maple industry for promotion and growth in this market sector.

Automated summary

Maple water products, tapped directly from maple trees, lack industry consensus on their authenticity, hindering their promotion in the functional beverage market. This study aims to establish standards of identity for maple water and analyze its chemical composition. The research shows that pasteurized maple water has a stable chemical composition over a 12-month period and exhibits similar phytochemical profiles and chemical characteristics to phenolic-enriched maple syrup extract. Additionally, both maple water and maple syrup extract show moderate antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This critical information will help define and distinguish maple water from other beverages, promoting growth in the maple industry.