Maple sap begins to flow when there are sufficient daily temperature swings between below and above freezing. That tends to be towards late February-early March in New England, depending on latitude and the weather. Curiously, Sugar Maple sap does not just flow up from the roots - it flows both downwards from the branches and up the trunk, depending on the time of day and the whim of the tree.
Our Vermont friends have been busy getting ready for sugarin', so it's time for some info. We tend to think of Vermont maple syrup, but Canada is the major producer. We consume it abundantly in New England and do not approve of the cheap substitute goop in the supermarkets. We buy the real stuff by the gallon when we can, especially the Grades below Light Amber. You can buy the rather intense Grade B
here, but I think I prefer the third level of Grade A - Dark Amber.
This place sells all of the grades.
- About the tree: Click here: Sugar Maple
- Sap flow: Click here: How to Explain Sap Flow
Grading - Many of of us like the intensity and gnarliness of the lower grades , but you won't find them in supermarkets. They are easy to find in Maple sugar country, though. Click here: Maple Syrup Grades
- FAQs: Click here: Massachusetts Maple Producers Association
- $ - We pay retail in the $20s/gallon, but the farmers get between $2-$3/gallon, usually. More in a "bad" year.
- When it looks like it has gone bad, it hasn't. Give it a light boil, skim it, and it's fine. Better yet, use it before any mold grows on the surface.
- Besides on waffles, French Toast, and pancakes, what can you do with it?
- Put it on oatmeal like the Pilgrims did.
- Pour some into winter squash halves with a pat of butter and bake, like my Indian ancestors probably did.
- Drizzle some over fresh-fallen snow. Instant Maple popsicles with the power to pull out all of your fillings and crowns.
- Drizzle some over Pumpkin Pie. Wow. Tom taught us that.
- Drizzle it over salmon before baking
Beezlebub is on vacation this week and will be spending it down at the WP In-Laws, helping around their place and getting all the taps, tubing, and buckets set up to collect sap from sugar maples to make maple...
Tracked: Feb 21, 19:23