What is it?
Maple syrup comes from maple trees: classic Canadian icons. Small holes are tapped into the trees, and sap (liquid from the trees consisting mostly of water) is collected. The water is then boiled off the sap, and sweet, sticky maple syrup is left.
Maple syrup is considered one of the many wonders of the world. It is a viscous amber liquid with a characteristic earthy sweet taste. Boiling the sap helps to concentrate its low sugar content to more than 60%. This process also creates the characteristic flavor and deep color of the syrup.
How is it made?
Sap is collected from maple trees around March and April, when the days are warm and the nights are freezing, causing the sap to flow.
The trees are tapped with holes and fitted with tubes connected to buckets, where the sap runs through to be collected.The sap is then boiled at about 104 degrees C on the same day it is gathered, usually boiling overnight in specific conditions to ensure the proper viscosity and taste of the final product.
The Traditional Native Way
The Native Americans were the first discoverers of sap of the maple trees.
They made small slits in the trees and used reeds or bark to collect the sap.
The sap was concentrated either by contact with hot stones or leaving it overnight.
The sap was boiled in clay pots hanging by tree branches over simple fires.
The Modern European Way
European colonies learned the custom of tapping maple trees for syrup from the Natives.
They used newer, advanced equipment. Sugarshacks - small, outdoor, wooden building where the sap was boiled - were created.
Maple syrup and other maple products, sugars, and candies were produced.
Which trees are used?
The main type of tree used is the Sugar Maple (also known as Hard Maple or acer saccarum).
Other trees used are: Red Maple (Swamp Maple, or acer rubrum), Silver Maple (Soft Maple), Ash Leafed Maple.
Trees should be at least 40 years old to tap (young trees are not big enough), but may be over 150 years old.
Trees must be at least 25 cm in trunk diameter.
Depending on the tree’s diameter, it may be fitted with up to 3 taps.
Prudent tapping does not harm the trees.
How is it used?
The most common use for maple syrup is to drown hot, fluffy pancakes with it.
However, maple syrup is commonly used in many other food dishes; such as sweets, candies, and drinks.
Maple is also gaining popularity as a flavoring for savoury dishes as well; such as maple smoked bacon,
maple braised pork, and maple vinagrettes.
Other Maple Products
Aside from maple syrup, the sap from maple trees is also used to make many other delicious products.
- Maple sugar
- Maple butter
- Maple cream
- Maple candies
- Maple coated nuts
Types of Maple Syrup
Grade A Light Amber Syrup is made from early season sap when the sugar content is highest (2.2 – 3%) so the least amount of boiling time is required to obtain syrup density. It is the lightest syrup and has a slightly maple, delicate flavor.
Grade A Medium Amber Syrup is made with average sugar content sap through midseason. This syrup is golden in color and has characteristic maple flavor.
Grade A Dark Amber Syrup is made from sap that has low sugar content, (1.2-1.6% )It is dark amber and has a more pronounced maple flavor.
Grade B Syrup is made at the end of the season with sap of very low sugar content. It is very dark in color and very strong in flavor.
Storing Maple Syrup
Maple syrup can last an extensive period of time if unopened.
Once open, maple syrup should be stored in the refrigerator or frozen.
Maple sugar and maple candies also last quite a while, and do not need to be refrigerated.
Nutrition
Maple syrup is a completely natural sweetener. It can be used in place of sugar in many recipes, although maple syrup is sweeter, so less is required.
Maple syrup has more health benefits than sugar, including antioxidants, zinc, manganese, calcium, iron, and potassium.
Interesting Facts
- High volumes of sap flows are called “runs”.
- It takes 50 liters of sap to make 1 litre of syrup.
- The sugar content of sap is 2.5%, syrup is 65%.
- There are 9 festivals held every year in Canada dedicated to maple syrup.
- Canada produces 80% of the world’s maple syrup.
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