Xinghu maltol is fake. At present, the counterfeit ethyl maltol widely popular in the market is generally mixed with glucose and starch. The identification methods are:

1. Appearance identification method: ethyl maltol is white granular crystal with luster, while the counterfeit is white powder with no luster.

2. Direct tasting method. Fake goods are sweet, but genuine goods are bitter.

3. Heating identification method: put a small amount of ethyl maltol on tin foil paper (or thin iron sheet) and heat it with alcohol lamp or lighter. After heating, ethyl maltol will melt. If heating is continued, the melted ethyl maltol will completely evaporate without leaving any impurities.

4. When counterfeit or low-purity ethyl maltol is operated according to the above method, burnt substances will be left on the tin foil paper.

5. Dissolution method. Ethyl maltol is hardly soluble in water at room temperature (the solubility in water is 1: 55), the crystal sinks to the bottom of the water, and the liquid is clear and transparent. Counterfeit products are easily soluble in water, and if they contain starch, they are turbid.