WHAT IS NATIONAL MAPLE SYRUP DAY?

GET YOUR MAPLE ON! National Maple Syrup Day is December 17! This delicious condiment is just as versatile as it is tasty; people enjoy it drizzled over everything, from pancakes to eggs to salads to barbecue; this sugary substance has more potential than some give it credit for.

The History of Maple Syrup Day

The origins of the production of maple syrup can be traced back thousands of years to the northeastern region of the United States. There, it was first gleaned from the abundant maple tree population by indigenous peoples. While it is uncertain as to how and why exactly the extraction process first began, it is inarguable that maple sap became a key ingredient in a variety of dishes. 

The arrival of European colonists would allow for the introduction of maple syrup to the Old World, and their love for the taste of the arboreal byproduct was matched by their appreciation for its utility. It was a popular substitute for cane sugar, as this had to be imported from the West Indies region, and its ability to exist in both liquid and crystallized form made it an ideal source for concentrated sugar. The colonists’ extraction methods differed from those of the indigenous peoples, and they would serve as the foundation for several subsequent iterations upon the process. Some maple trees may have even seen dozens of changes to the extraction procedures used upon them, as they can continue to be tapped for sap for more than 100 years!

Who knew we had so many Coos County Maple Producers?

Muddy Boots - Groveton

Fuller Sugarhouse- Jefferson

Mount Cabot Maple - Lancaster

Burns Lake Farm - Whitefield

Meridien Hill Maple Farm - Columbia

Flying Sleigh Farm - Columbia

Owen Boys Sugar House - Stewartstown

Grays Sugar House - Pittsburg

Haynes Call Sugar Bush - Colebrook

Lost Nation Maple - Berlin

Boothman Sugar Orchard - Randolph

And just over the border….April’s Maple - Canaan, VT