New Delhi, Dec. 20 -- Most of us have no childhood memories attached to maple syrup. What we do have is a food landscape that has shrunk the world and expanded our grocery lists to include ingredients from every corner of it. We may not have fir trees, snowy winters or crackling fireplaces-except in the Himalayan states-but a drizzle of pure maple syrup can still bring the cold climes and forests of Canada and New England right into our kitchens in India.

Pure maple syrup's flavour comes from a mix of naturally occurring compounds that give it caramelised, nutty and slightly woody notes, along with a subtle bitterness that keeps the sweetness in check. It is sweet, yes, but not in that flat, one-dimensional way sugar can be. What I find ...