Today, Owen and I were invited to a friend's house, where they were making maple syrup! It was very interesting and fun. Did you know that it takes 40 gallons of sap to make ONE gallon of syrup? And sap is almost clear. It tastes very slightly sweet, like a weak Koolaid. Then much thicker and sweeter by the time it's done. Also, I learned that Grade A is the maple syrup that has been made at the beginning of the season. It is very light in color, and is the best syrup. In a commercial setting, all the trees are linked by lines, so that all the sap comes to one place, easier to harvest. But, also, as the season continues, the sun has a chance to heat up the lines, creating bacteria to build up in them. Thus, it affects the sap, and you get a more bitter flavor, as it is boiled. This is what the other grades are a result of.
Here is a cooler in a wagon, that they used to go from tree to tree, collecting sap.
Owen could only carry the smaller, half full buckets. But, everyone was able to help.
They let us get a taste of the sap before it is cooked down.
Stoaking the fire under the HUGE vat of syrup cooking.
Getting more buckets...
Playing inbetween times.
Boiling sap.
More muddy, boy play! You should have seen his shoes, pants, and socks after we came home. BATHTIME! lol
3 comments:
That is really cool. I didn't know that about maple syrup. Great post!
What a neat way to learn about syrup! Looks like he was really enjoying himself.
Great lesson about syrup! I think I was more fascinated about the syrup process than the boys - they were just as interested (or more) in the surrounding mud! :)
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