The most interesting new maple product we've seen is Equinox organic maple flakes that come in their own mill so you can grind them onto your cereal and much more.

The product, made by drying pure maple sugar, comes from Canada and can be used in lieu of sugar in marinades, on salads or for decorating cakes and pastries.

There's even a zesty version that also contains cranberry juice. The refillable mill with 2 1/2 ounces of flakes retails for about $9; 4 ounces of flakes is about $4.

For more information or to order, visit www.decacer.com.

A product we'd like to try, though we hear it's an acquired taste, is birch syrup, which is made from birch tree sap in extreme northern climates, such as in Alaska.

Check out www.alaska-birchsyrup.com.