Hanna Maple Syrup Digital Grader

The HI759 Maple Syrup Digital Grader uses a fixed wavelength LED and silicon photodetector to provide the accuracy of professional instrumentation at an affordable price.

Hanna’s Maple Syrup Digital Grader bridges the gap between visual grading kits and professional instrumentation. Temporary maple syrup grading kits provide minimal accuracy and resolution since they rely upon the human eye to discern differences in color. Professional instrumentation incorporates a light source such as an LED or tungsten lamp with a filter and a light sensing detector to precisely determine the percent light transmittance. Professional instrumentation offers greater resolution and accuracy but can cost hundreds of dollars. The period for producing maple syrup lasts a few months from winter into spring annually. As temperatures rise during the day and nights remain below freezing, the sap from maple trees starts to move, and tapping commences. At the start of the production season, the sap yields a lighter, sweeter syrup that primarily contains sucrose as its main sugar. As the season advances and temperatures increase, microorganisms develop and inhabit the sap as it is gathered. These bacteria, although harmless, transform some of the sucrose present into inverted sugars, including glucose and fructose. The concentration of invert sugars in the sap and the chemical reactions that take place during boiling contribute to producing a darker and more robustly flavored syrup Maple syrup grading standards for the United States and Canada are identical, allowing consumers to easily distinguish between the different grades of syrup, regardless of the place of origin. Grade A maple syrup is classified into four distinct categories:

Range (% Transmittance)	USDA and State of Vermont Grades and Standards (New IMSi* Standards)
75.0 to 100.0	Grade A Golden Color / Delicate Taste
50.0 to 74.9	Grade A Amber Color / Rich Taste
25.0 to 49.9	Grade A Dark Color / Robust Taste
Less than 25.00	Grade A Very Dark Color Color / Strong Taste

The HI759 Maple Syrup Digital Grader is a handheld colorimeter designed for quick, accurate determination of Grade A maple syrup. The HI759 is designed as a more accurate alternative to temporary and permanent visual grading kits, providing quick, accurate results in four easy steps. Step One - Add a sample to the included cuvette(s). Step Two - Insert the glycerol reference cuvette, close the lid, and press the button to zero. Step Three - Remove the glycerol reference cuvette and replace it with a sample cuvette. Step Four- Close the lid and press the button. Reading will be taken automatically and the results displayed in percent light transmittance. This Maple Syrup Digital Grader measures the light transmittance of the syrup and directly displays the percentage results on the large, easy-to-read LCD display. Located on the back of the meter is a chart referencing the percent light transmittance to the grade. Eliminating the subjectivity of grading by eye and the potential for mislabeling, the HI759 is grading made simple.