MQA ~ Quality Ontario Artisanal Maple Syrup

Beginning this Autumn. All from the heart of Maple Country.

The Maple Quality Alliance (MQA) is a new artisanal maple qualification program inspired by the VQA model for Ontario wines. It celebrates and protects small-batch, terroir-driven maple syrup by guaranteeing origin, quality, and authentic flavour. Every MQA-certified product is tested for purity and taste, traceable to the exact single forest where it was made, and labelled with a unique QR code so consumers can explore the producer’s story, the season’s conditions, and the craft behind each batch.

By setting clear standards for appellation, sustainable production, and flavour excellence, MQA helps Ontario’s maple producers stand apart from generic bulk syrup, ensuring that when you choose an MQA maple, you know exactly what you’re getting — and why it’s extraordinary. There is simply no comparison with the blended and barrelled syrups of Quebec, packaged generically as “Canadian” in grocery stores! 

For consumers and food lovers — from Toronto to Tokyo — MQA is a passport to a richer maple experience. It connects you directly to Ontario’s most passionate makers, letting you taste the subtle regional terroir differences that make our province’s maple syrup so unique. Whether you’re drizzling it over delicious desserts or coffees, or mixing it into signature cocktails, you’ll enjoy maple syrup at its peak — vibrant, complex, and full of luscious character. MQA products invite you to savour a true sense of place, supporting local forests, rural communities, and artisanal traditions while delivering a flavour journey worth sharing with the world.

Coldwater Maple Company is proud to be a pioneering founder in MQA.