| Making maple syrup can be a very easy, fun, and | | | | population of North America was producing maple |
| rewarding activity the entire family can enjoy. All | | | | syrup when Europeans first arrived. |
| you need are a few maple trees, some basic | | | | You can make your own maple syrup with very |
| simple equipment, and the will power to put in the | | | | little equipment, and you may already have most |
| effort making maple syrup for yourself. Making | | | | of these items. Much of the equipment can be |
| maple syrup is as easy as acquiring maple sap and | | | | acquired from your local store, and the items that |
| boiling it into syrup. | | | | are unique to making maple syrup such as spiles, |
| The process of making maple syrup is an age-old | | | | (spouts) hydrometers, and finishing filters can be |
| tradition of the North American Indians, where it | | | | found at maple syrup equipment suppliers, or you |
| was used both as a food and often as a medicine. | | | | can find them online. |
| Very little has changed since the American Indian | | | | The fact is most people are unaware of the |
| first discovered how to use the sweet sap from | | | | many different uses of maple syrup, other than |
| a maple tree. | | | | the tried and true 'pancakes and syrup'. Try pure |
| The process of making maple syrup has not | | | | Maple Syrup on ....grapefruit, plain yogurt, winter |
| changed in all these years. You boil the sap to | | | | squash, or sweet potatoes. Use it as a glaze on |
| remove the water and produce maple syrup. | | | | meat, or poultry and over ice cream for a tasty |
| The trees need to be tapped in the early spring, | | | | treat. For a special treat put it in coffee, milk or a |
| or late winter months. The sap is then collected | | | | milkshake. The uses for maple syrup are |
| and boiled down to make maple syrup. Making 1 | | | | never-ending. |
| gallon of syrup requires boiling down about 40 | | | | Maple syrup is one agricultural crop in which there |
| gallons of sap, which is a slow and labor intensive | | | | is no surplus. It is only produced in North America, |
| process. The most important process in making | | | | because Europe does not have the proper |
| maple syrup is lots of heat. | | | | weather conditions conducive to producing enough |
| The groves of maple trees that cover the | | | | sap. All maple syrup is not created equal, and |
| Northeastern United States and Canada are | | | | making maple syrup is a source of pride for many |
| referred to as the sugarbush, and the process of | | | | Northeastern States in the US, and most of |
| making maple syrup is called sugaring. Making | | | | Canada. |
| maple syrup is one of Agriculture's oldest natural | | | | To produce maple cream, sugar, and candy the |
| commodities. | | | | syrup is boiled even further, and is a natural |
| The history of Maple Syrup is nearly as old as the | | | | sweetener that has many health benefits. Pure |
| land itself. Maple syrup is a true American product, | | | | maple syrup is truly one of the first signs of |
| and the art of making maple syrup is generally | | | | spring. |
| attributed to Native Americans. The native | | | | |