December 17th is National Maple Syrup Day! Maple syrup comes from the sap of the maple tree. The maple tree is tapped by boring a hole into its trunk and collecting the running sap. Canada, the largest supplier of maple syrup, produces over 5 million gallons of it each year!
Native Americans were the first to harvest and boil the sap of the maple tree into a thick syrup—a process that was documented and adopted by early settlers in the 1600s. Tapping a maple tree does no permanent damage to the tree and only 10% of the sap that is produced in a year is actually collected. Unbelievably, it takes approximately 30-50 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup!!
Whether you like your maple syrup as a topping on pancakes, waffles, or french toast, enjoy some today in honor of National Maple Syrup Day!
Wow, thank you so much for informing me that around 40 gallons of sap are used to produce one gallon of syrup! I had no idea it was such a large process. I am going to a family reunion in a month, and I am in charge of breakfast for everyone. Grade A Vermont maple syrup sounds like the perfect addition to a wonderful pancakes and eggs meal.