December 23, 2008
For some reason the enormous snow blanket wrapping the house led me to contemplate maple syrup candy. I have never had it, but I thought I remembered reading about it ...
Other Names: 枫糖 (Chinese), شراب القيقب (Arabic), Sirop d'érable (French), Jarabe de arce (Spanish), Кленовый сироп (Russian) All Translations
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Wikipedia
Maple syrup is a sweetener made from the sap of some maple trees. In cold climate areas, these trees store sugar in their roots before the winter and the sap which rises in the spring can be tapped and concentrated. Quebec, Canada, produces most of the world's supply of maple syrup. The United States is the only other major producer and the leading consumer. Maple syrup is most often eaten with waffles, pancakes, oatmeal, crumpets and French toast. It is sometimes used as an ingredient in baking, the making of candy, preparing desserts, or as a sugar source and flavoring agent in making beer. Sucrose is the most prevalent sugar in maple syrup. It was first collected and used by Native Americans/First Nations and was later adopted by European settlers.http://www.canadianmaplesyrup.com/maplehistory.html
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[edit] About Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is produced only in the northeastern Unites States and adjoining Canadian provinces; Minnesota is the farthest state to the west in which maple syrup is produced. It is made by tapping maple trees in late winter, when days are above freezing (32°F) but nights drop below freezing.
To tap a tree, the syrup maker drills a small hole in the tree, then places a spile (a hollow tube, basically) into the hole. Sap, which looks like clear water, drips out and is collected. The syrup maker boils the sap down to concentrate the sugar. Pure sap has about 2% sugar, which must be concentrated to 67% sugar. Typically, 40 gallons of sap are required to produce one gallon of finished syrup.
Maple syrup was made by American Indians long before the coming of the white man. The natives traded their syrup, and maple sugar (produced by cooking the sap even longer, so the sugar is more concentrated and crystallizes), to European traders and trappers, receiving blankets, pots and other goods in exchange.
Pure maple syrup, made as described above, has no similarity to commercial "pancake syrup," which is composed primarily of caramelized high fructose corn syrup.
Want to know if this food is in season near you? Download the Locavore iPhone app for produce seasonality information!
Recipes With Maple Syrup
Maple Butternut Fudge
Butter, Maple Syrup, Walnut
Butter, Maple Syrup, Walnut
Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette
Balsamic Vinegar, Maple Syrup, Mustard, Olive Oil, Pepper
Balsamic Vinegar, Maple Syrup, Mustard, Olive Oil, Pepper
Low-Fat Pineapple Yam Bake
Egg White, Maple Syrup, Yams
Egg White, Maple Syrup, Yams
Maple Pecan Butter
Butter, Maple Syrup, Pecan
Butter, Maple Syrup, Pecan
Maple Mustard Glazed Pork
Cider Vinegar, Maple Syrup, Mustard, Pork Loin, Soy Sauce
Cider Vinegar, Maple Syrup, Mustard, Pork Loin, Soy Sauce
