Cedarvale Maple Syrup Company - Facts

Maple Syrup
The "Spile"
Fun Facts
Order Here
Look at our
Recipes

Take a tour
of our Factory

Maple weekend
open houses

New Tidbits for
Maple Lovers

Send A Message

Directions


Christmas Trees
History

Tree Truth

Facts

Care

Shop at Our Farm

Tree Types

Directions

FUN FACTS


MAPLE SUGARING

Sap dripping from the sugar maple is one of the true signs of early spring in New York State. Trees may be tapped as early as the end of January, but the main sap flow occurs in March. This sweet nectar of spring is boiled over raging fires until it is concentrated into a golden syrup. As soon as the buds begin to swell in April, the sap becomes off-flavored or "buddy" and collecting is discontinued. If care is taken, no permanent damage is done to the tree. While it may yield sap for 100 years or more, a tree is usually not mature enough for permanent tapping until it reaches 45 years old.

USES FOR MAPLE SYRUP

On pancakes, waffles, French toast, to sweeten apple sauce, in milkshakes, tea, coffee, hot toddies, on fresh fruit (especially grapefruit), to add flavor to baked beans, to mix with butter and glaze squash, sweet potatoes, or carrots, on baking powder biscuits, fresh donuts, over ice cream, hot cereal, corn fritters, baked apples, custards, etc.

USES FOR MAPLE CREAM

Makes an excellent spread on breads, rolls, muffins, waffles, French toast, breakfast toast (try raisin toast), steamed puddings, upside-down cakes. Combine with nuts, coconut, fruits to fill cream puffs, eclairs, or crepes. Mix with butter (6 tablespoons per cup) and use as a frosting.

USES FOR GRANULATED MAPLE SUGAR

Granulated Maple Sugar is a great topping on coffee cake, cold cereals, oatmeal, grapefruit, French toast, crumb cake, etc. Try it as part of a glaze on baked ham or roasted cornbeef. Great as a sweetener in hot tea, coffee or hot toddies as well.

NUTRITION INFORMATION

Maple Syrup has about the same 50 cal./tbsp.as white cane sugar, but also contains significant amounts of potassium (35 mg./tbsp.), calcium (21 mg./tbsp.), small amounts of iron and phosphorus, and trace amounts of B-vitamins. Its sodium content is a low 2 mg./tbsp.

MAPLE FACTS . . .

  • A maple tree is usually at least 45 years old and 12 inches in diameter before it is tapped.
  • As a tree increases in diameter, more taps can be added: up to a maximum of four.
  • Tapping does no permanent damage to the tree and only about 10% of the sap is collected each year.
  • Each tap yields an average of 10 gallons of sap per season: that yields about one quart of syrup.
  • Warm sunny days (above 40 degrees F) and frosty nights are ideal for sap flow.
  • The Maple season may last 4 to 6 weeks, but sap flow is heaviest for 10 to 20 days.
  • Sap flowing in high volumes is called a "run."
  • The harvest season ends with the arrival of warm spring nights and early bud development in the trees.
  • 30-50 gallons of sap are evaporated to make one gallon of syrup.
  • Maple syrup is boiled even further to produce Maple cream, sugar and candy.
  • It takes one gallon of syrup to produce eight pounds of candy or sugar.
  • A gallon of pure Maple syrup weighs 11 pounds.
  • The sugar content of sap averages 2.5%, of syrup 66.5%.

STORAGE OF MAPLE PRODUCTS

Unopened containers of maple syrup should be stored in a cool, dry place. Once opened, maple syrup should be refrigerated. If, after extended storage, mold should form on the surface of the syrup, the original quality can be restored. Remove the mold, heat the syrup to boiling, skim the surface, rinse the container and refill it with the hot syrup.