Maple Syrup colour and grade is determined by the time in the season in which it was collected. Sap harvested early in the season is light golden with a sweet, delicate flavour. As the season progresses, the syrup becomes darker and more caramelized, with a dark, robust taste.
Visitors are invited to take a tour of our local sugarbushes in celebration of maple syrup production to see how that clear, thin sap is transformed into that thick, rich, sweet confection, watching the sap transition from from tree to table.
Producers will share their secrets, some samples, grading techniques and, weather permitting, a walk through their sugar bush. Wear your boots!
From traditional wood-burning stoves to modern, sophisticated reverse osmosis and gleaming stainless steel boilers, each producer has their own process, but all methods result in that delicious treat. Producers are eager to share new ways to use this farm product beyond pancakes in recipes both sweet and savoury, including baking, roasting, sauces and vinaigrettes.
The unpredictable weather is a challenge for local producers, but they remain optimistic that the extensive snow cover will contribute to a longer season, provided weather conditions don’t heat up too quickly. The ideal conditions for sap collection includes warm days and below freezing nights, with sap collection running from mid-afternoon through to the wee hours of the morning for roughly six weeks starting in late February and running until mid-April. Daytime temperatures above freezing followed by below freezing night temperatures creates pressure in the trees that encourages the flow of sap.
The following are local tour participants: J and K Sugar Shack 3804 Challice Line; Johnston’s Farm Market 10704 County Rd. 28; Bailieboro; Red Mill Maple Syrup 1232 Deyell Line; Staples Maple Syrup,403 Hwy 7A, Cavan; Sweet Maple Farm 10010 Powerline Rd., Millbrook; and Woodleigh Farms, 528 Sharpe Line, Cavan, and Clancey & Gayle’s Maple Products at 542 Waite Rd. in Pontypool. Some of the venues will be offering fresh pancakes, crepes and waffles. The Millbrook Legion is also participating in the Maple festivities, and will be hosting a pancake breakfast on Saturday, April 4th from 9 to 11:30 am.
Plan your visit by checking out the locations on the Ontario Maple Producers website at www.mapleweekend.ca, as some are open both days, others only one of the two days. Clancey’s location in Pontypool are asking visitors to reserve a spot in advance. Admission is free, but you might want to bring some cash to purchase some products or sample some of it on fresh pancakes or waffles.
You can consider your visit in celebration of this iconic Canadian product as an “elbow’s up” gesture, as Canada is a global leader in maple syrup production. Sixty percent of our syrup production exported, and yes, the US is our largest maple syrup export market.