Birch syrup is a savory, mineral-tasting syrup made from birch sap, and produced in much the same way as maple syrup. However, it is seldom used for pancake or waffle syrup; more often it is used as an ingredient paired with pork or salmon dishes in sauces, glazes, and dressings, and as a flavoring in ice cream, beer, wine, and soft drinks.
It is condensed from the sap, which has about 0.5–2% percent sugar content, depending on the species of birch, location, weather, and season. The finished syrup is 66% sugar or more to be classified as a syrup. Birch sap sugar is about 42–54% fructose and 45% glucose, with a small amount of sucrose and trace amounts of galactose.
The main sugar in maple syrup is the more complex sucrose, and the chemical contents of maple syrup are also different, leading to a flavor difference.
The flavor of birch syrup has a distinctive and mineral-rich, caramel-like taste with a hint of spiciness that is not unlike molasses, balsamic condiment, or some types of soy. Different types of birch will produce slightly different flavour profiles; some more copper, others with hints of wildflower honey. While birch syrup has the same sugar content of maple, it is darker, stronger, and more complex.
Birch syrup production is centered in Canada, Alaska, and Russia, with smaller amounts made in Scandinavia, Belarus, and Ukraine.