Maine Maple Syrup season is from late February to April. This is the only time of year that the maple trees can be tapped for sap collection. This is the time of year when the snow is starting to melt and the temperature gets warmer during the day, and still cool at night. The sap is stored in the winter and when the temperature begins to rise again in the spring, the pressure increase within the tree forcing the sap to move throughout the tree and ooze out of any cracks or holes in the tree. When the temperature drops again at night, the sap stops flowing. The maple tree needs a sugar boost to start to provide the tree nutrients to make new leaves in the spring. The sap that is produced from a maple tree has a higher sugar content than other trees making it the perfect sap for maple syrup!
To collect the sap, a spile is inserted into the side of the tree and then a bucket is placed under the spile to collect the sap running from the trees. When the bucket is full, the sap is then collected, strained of any foreign debris and the process for maple syrup begins. Is takes 40 gallons of sap to produce 1 gallon of maple syrup.
The process for collecting and making maple syrup hasn’t drastically changed much over the years. What has changed is the efficient in product and the quality of the final product. Trees are typically tapped and then a bucket is hung below the tap to collect the sap. Larger sugar houses with use plastic tubes that are strung from tree to tree, allowing the sap to be pumped directly back to the sugar house, saving a lot of time!
Once the sap has been collected, it then needs to be boiled for hours to reduce down. During the boiling process, the sap need to reach 217-218 degrees to become that beautiful amber color syrup we all love! Some other maple products that can be made from the sap in the boiling process are hard and soft candies, maple cream, granulated sugar. Maple syrup is a healthy alternative to sugar and has many other health benefits. It is 100% organic, contains high amounts of magnesium, calcium, zinc, riboflavin, and potassium. It contains nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants which can help improve your health.
Maine has a long history of making Maple syrup and has even dedicated the fourth weekend of March as Maine Maple Syrup Sunday! It is a day when you can tour the sugarhouses’ and get educational demonstration, your the Sugarbush, and sample products like their maple syrup. Some sugarhouses offer a variety of thing to try like maple donuts, BBQ sauce, cotton candy, or our personal favorite, maple syrup on vanilla ice cream.
Linda Bean’s Maine Lobster is proud to offer 1/2 pints and whole pints of Maine Maple Syrup that is made in the high mountains of Maine. Available for purchase in our store front in Myrtle Beach or for Nationwide Shipping.
Order Online or Call Us - 1-855-USMAINE (1-855-876-2463) to place your order and have it shipped anywhere in the USA!
