Happy National Maple Syrup Day

If you love the rich taste of maple syrup, you’re in luck. December 17th is National Maple Syrup Day. Sweeet! While the origins of this annual food holiday are unknown, maple syrup has been enjoyed since Native American’s “invented” the syrup centuries ago.

It’s all in the Sap

Made from the sap of the maple tree, it takes between 30 and 50 gallons of the sap to make one gallon of pure maple syrup. It takes about 40 years before maple trees can be “tapped” and only healthy trees are tapped. While many trees have only one sap, larger trees may have several taps. Each tap yields about 10 gallons of sap during the 4 to 6 week season. Healthy trees can provide sap for over a hundred years.

While many folks enjoy a heapin’ helping of pure maple syrup slathered all over their pancakes, French toast or dribbled over a scoop of vanilla ice cream, maple syrup is also used in baked products, candies, cocktails and even beer. Pass the syrup, please!