Maple syrup is more than just a topping for soufflé pancakes and French toast waffles. It’s a natural sweetener that can be used to enhance other breakfast foods like oatmeal, yogurt, and chia seed pudding. There are various ways to use maple syrup, and if it’s something you purchase regularly, you should definitely consider buying it from Costco. Not only will you save money in the long run, but you will have enough to last quite a while. With a Costco membership, you can purchase a liter of Kirkland Signature organic maple syrup. That’s 33.8 fluid ounces of pure grade A maple syrup for only $14.99 — a great price for Canadian-sourced syrup. That’s right, the Kirkland brand maple syrup comes from Canada, specifically from The Maple Treat and Citadelle.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise since Kirkland items aren’t made by one singular company. A majority of these products are actually name-brand items sold under the Kirkland banner. The same applies to the brand’s maple syrup. Kirkland Signature maple syrup is produced by The Maple Treat and Citadelle, which are both based in Canada. In fact, Canada produces most of the world’s maple syrup. Along with the U.S., about 50 other countries export their maple syrup from our northern neighbor. With Canada leading the production, it makes sense that Kirkland Signature maple syrup is produced there.
Why is Kirkland Signature sourced in Canada?
Although Vermont produces the most maple syrup in the U.S., Natural Resources Canada reports that about 70% of maple syrup sold around the globe is still made in Canada. Indeed, most of that is produced in Québec, the same province where The Maple Treat is located. The rest of the country’s syrup is produced in the provinces of Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick. But why Canada? Because maple syrup is deeply rooted in the country’s history and culture.
According to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Indigenous peoples utilized maple syrup as an anesthetic, a sweetener, and a way to preserve meat while it was curing. Since they lived in the Maple Belt — a vast forest that extends from the midwestern U.S. to the various Canadian provinces — they had access to several types of maple trees. One of these was the sugar maple, the most common producer of maple syrup. So, once the settlers arrived in the 1600s, the Indigenous peoples taught them how to access the sap and make real (not fake) maple syrup. By the late 1700s, most settlers engaged in maple syrup production.
Since then, Canada has excelled at producing the golden sticky stuff. In 2020, the TRCA reported that Canada exported $515 million in maple goods. No wonder Canadian companies take pride in making and selling this premium good. The Maple Treat proudly declares on its website that its maple syrup is “world renowned for its outstanding purity, delicacy, and authentic flavor.” Likewise, Citadelle’s website boastfully states that the brand is “capable of supplying quality products with consistent flavor year-round.” With such rich history, we can understand why Costco chooses to source its maple syrup from Canada.
