Breakfast is the best meal, but, frankly, it could use a little zhoosh. Enter Sparkle Syrup. “We produced this product during the height of the pandemic to help bring a smile to people’s faces during a challenging time,” says Runamok’s Dan Robbins. Our kiddie testers, in particular, were delighted with this pure maple syrup infused with sustainably-sourced pearlescent edible mica. It adds a touch of shimmering sweetness to dipping sauces, a stack of pancakes, and even in a Bourbon Smash. Why not get fancy and create a breakfast gift box with Sparkle Syrup, and, say, a box of blueberry pancake and waffle mix from Maine’s Stonewall Kitchen, and a bag of coffee beans from a local roaster?

Or maybe pair it with a jar of honey. Hot honey is trending right now, and Runamok’s Chipotle Morita Honey is perfection — they infuse clover honey with smoky/spicy chipotle morita chile peppers. It’s great drizzled over grilled shrimp, fried chicken, roasted veggies, homemade pizza — anything that can use a jolt of flavor.

Best Overall: Runamok – Sugar Maker’s Cut Pure Maple Syrup. For the maple syrup purists who want the real deep woody essence of maple, we picked Vermont’s Runamok Sugar Maker’s Cut. This brand had the most favorable comments about its maple flavor. One of our testers observed, “A lovely all purpose breakfast syrup. Sweet and well-rounded, seems versatile,” while another one said, “Great taste, it feels authentically maple!” It’s no wonder that this syrup had the best overall flavor, as Runamok is certified organic by the Northeastern Organic Farmers Association and considered a Bird Friendly Maple by the National Audubon Society.

Runamok, of Fairfax, was founded in 2016 by former bulk maple producers Eric Sorkin and his wife, Laura. Together with partner Curt Alpeter, they have taken maple to an entirely new level... Currently, Runamok employs 100 people. It made the list of “Oprah's Favorite Things” right out of the starting gate in 2016. It reported revenues last year of between $10 million and $20 million. “Runamok Maple is redefining maple from tree to table,” the company's publicity says, and that isn't hype.