NATIONAL MAPLE SYRUP DAY
Get the flapjacks ready for National Maple Syrup Day. December 17th calls for orders of pancakes, french toast, or biscuits topped off with butter and delicious maple syrup.
#MapleSyrupDay
These trees, in cold climates, store starch in their trunks and in their roots. In the spring, the starch is then converted to sugar that rises in the sap. The maple trees are then tapped by boring holes into their trunks and the released sap is collected. After the sap is collected, it is processed by heating to evaporate much of the water, leaving the concentrated syrup.
The indigenous peoples of North American first collected, processed, and used maple syrup. European settlers adopted the practice and gradually refined production methods. In the 1970s, technological improvements further refined the process of making syrup.
- A maple syrup production farm is called a sugarbush or a sugarwood.
- The sap is boiled in a sugar house which is also known as a sugar shack, sugar shanty, or a cabane à sucre.
- Up until the 1930s, the United States led in maple syrup production. Now, Canada produces the most maple syrup.
- Vermont is the largest producer of maple syrup in the United States.
HOW TO OBSERVE MAPLE SYRUP DAY
Serve up a breakfast worthy of real maple syrup. Learn more about tapping trees for sap to make syrup in the spring. Whether you crave pancakes, biscuits, or some light crepes, be sure to share them using #MapleSyrupDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL MAPLE SYRUP DAY HISTORY
It’s a sticky subject, but National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this sweet holiday. Pass the syrup!
Maple Syrup FAQ
Q. When is tapping season for maple syrup?
A. Weather conditions determine the best time to tap trees for sap. Tapping maple sap beings as early as the middle of February and continues through April.
Q. What color is maple sap when it comes out of the tree?
A. Maple sap is a clear liquid when it is tapped from the tree. The process of heating and boiling the sap creates the darker color of maple syrup.
Q. What states produce maple syrup?
A. Vermont produces the most maple syrup. However, these states also make maple syrup:
- New York
- Maine
- Pennsylvania
- New Hampshire
- Wisconsin
- Michigan
Q. Is maple syrup only used as a topping?
A. No. You can also use maple syrup for making baked goods and candy.