Is maple syrup a good alternative to sugar?

The reason we don't recommend maple syrup is that it is not local to India. For international participants, you may use it occasionally. 

Caution : Please do not confuse pancake syrup with maple syrup. There are many brands in the market today selling pancake syrup in the name of maple syrup, which contains a very small percentage of real maple syrup. The rest is all refined sugar (and this is clearly mentioned on the ingredient list). If you are to consume maple syrup, make sure it is authentic maple syrup, not pancake syrup mixed with sugar. 

How is maple syrup made?

• It is made by tapping sugar maple trees, and then boiling the sap to produce a thick syrup, which is then filtered to remove impurities. It is made from the circulating fluid, or sap of sugar maple trees. 
• Maple tree needs to reach the age of 30 years to become suitable for sap extraction.
• Sap is collected by a traditional method of tap and bucket or modernized pipeline and vacuum systems. 
• When the sap is collected at that time, sugar content is at 1% to 3.5%.
• Reverse osmosis is performed and sugar level is increased up to 8%.
• On average it takes 40 litres of sap to make 1 litre of maple syrup which is unsustainable.

If you are to use it, make sure it is organic (as it is generally genetically modified corn syrup with as little as 3% maple syrup), and use it minimally (dates, figs and other whole sweeteners are safer choices).