This is the real deal.  Real maple syrup does not contain high fructose corn syrup. Real maple syrup does not contain artificial flavors. Real maple syrup does not contain preservatives. There are really not any substitutes for real maple syrup. Why? Because real maple syrup is all natural, produced by boiling sap from a maple tree to concentrate the sugar. Not only does maple syrup taste better than other sweeteners, research indicates that there are even health benefits to maple syrup, as it has been found to contain compounds with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.