Testing the Waters (the Maple Waters Trend, That Is)
There is certainly no shortage of trendy ways to hydrate yourself on a hot summer day: smoothies, energy drinks, kombucha teas, vitamin-infused waters and, lest we forget, the ubiquitous coconut waters. Not to mention the boring old plain water that comes out of your tap -- free. But if you're thirsty for yet another option, you're in luck. The latest beverage to show up at the grocery store is maple water. Not to be confused with sweet, sticky maple syrup, maple water is basically the thin (supposedly not sticky) sap that is tapped directly out of the tree. "It takes 40 gallons of maple water to boil down to one gallon of syrup," explains Kate Weiler, Co-Founder of Drink Maple. "People think maple water is going to overly sweet but are pleasantly surprised by its refreshing quality." Proponents of the stuff are quick to point out its numerous nutritional benefits. An eight-ounce glass contains just 15 calories and 3 grams of naturally occurring sugar. &