Maple Syrup: That Sweet-Tasting Topping Made In Canada

For people who have never been to Canada, maple syrup is one of the first things that comes to mind when discussing the country. I have never been to Quebec, where most of it is produced. So, let’s learn about maple syrup together.

What Is Maple Syrup?

Maple syrup is a topping for Canadian breakfasts, such as pancakes, waffles, French toast, and hot cereals like oatmeal and porridge. It can also be used as a sweetener in baking.

A maple syrup farm is commonly referred to as a sugar bush. Why is most of Canada’s maple syrup produced in Quebec? There are two main factors to consider: the species of maple trees in the area and the most appropriate climate. Maple syrup is produced from maple trees, of which there are many different varieties across Canada, some making more sap than others. Also, the climate across Canada varies significantly. I remember walking to school in Regina, Saskatchewan, in the 60s when it was -40°C. On the south coast of beautiful British Columbia, temperatures rarely drop below 0°C in the winter.

Quebec has the perfect combination of sugar maples, a freezing winter, and reasonably mild late winter and early spring.

The Origins of Maple Syrup

Indigenous peoples of northeastern North America produced maple syrup and maple sugar long before European settlers arrived in the region. There are no written records of the time, but based on legends passed down through the ages, they held celebrations centred on syrup-making. In some tribes, the first full moon of spring was called the Sugar Moon and celebrated with a Maple Dance.

Maple Syrup Production

The production of maple syrup consists of two distinct parts. First, the farmers collect the sap from the trees, and then it must be reduced through boiling and filtration.

Traditional Sap Collection

It all begins with the sap from maple trees. Due to the high sugar content in the sap, three species of maple trees are most commonly used for the production of maple syrup:

1. The sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
2. The black maple (Acer nigrum)
3. The red maple (Acer rubrum)

During the cold winter, starch accumulates in the roots and trunks of the trees, converting to sugar in the sap in late winter and early spring. Farmers drill holes in the trunks of the trees and insert spigots or taps into the holes. The sap then drips into attached buckets.

They only tap mature trees, 30 to 40 years old. Sugar maples can live 200 to 300 years. Depending on the diameter of the tree trunk, the number of taps per tree can range from one to three. A single tree can produce up to 35 to 50 litres of sap per season, which occurs over four to eight weeks, from late winter to early spring, depending on the weather.

The Process

Sap is mostly water with only 1% to 6% sugar, so the workers must induce evaporation of the water by boiling the sap. It can take up to 40 litres of sap to make 1 litre of syrup. After the evaporation process, the resulting maple syrup is approximately two-thirds sugar by weight. The workers must carefully monitor the concentration, as excessive boiling will cause the syrup to crystallize, rendering it unusable. It then undergoes a filtration process to remove any solids or grit, commonly referred to as sugar sand. This process takes place in a building called the Sugar Shack.

How Maple Syrup Production Has Changed

Although some smaller sugar bushes still use buckets to collect sap from maple trees, it is a system of the past. In the maple forests of most sugar bushes, an intricate system of hollow vacuum tubes runs from each tree back to the sugar shack for processing. The tube system is much more efficient and avoids unnecessary traffic, unlike the bucket method, which disrupts the forest floor.

Changes have also occurred in the evaporation process. The workers remove much of the water from the sap before boiling by using pressure to force it through a membrane. However, they must still boil what remains to maintain control of the concentration.

Maple Syrup in Canadian Culture

Maple syrup is a significant commodity in Canada. Approximately 75 to 80% of the total maple products produced worldwide are produced in Canada, with the vast majority coming from Quebec. Therefore, maple products are valuable exports for the Canadian economy.

There are many maple syrup festivals in Canada that celebrate the arrival of spring. However, these are exclusive to eastern Canada, so living on the West Coast, I have never had the opportunity to attend one. At these festivals, many of which are held outside the sugar shacks, attendees can sample maple products and learn about the process of making syrup and other maple products.

Health Benefits of Maple Syrup

Is maple syrup good for you? Well, apparently so. It is full of antioxidants and nutrients, which offer many benefits:

1. Helps lower cholesterol
2. Helps fight inflammatory diseases
3. May protect against cancer
4. Aids with skin health
5. Aids in improved digestion compared to sugar
6. Supplies essential vitamins and minerals
7. Is a healthy alternative to artificial sweeteners
8. Has fewer calories than honey

The Grading System

A grading system strictly controls the production and sales of maple syrup. There are three classifications:

1) Grade A

• Golden colour and delicate taste
• Amber colour and rich taste
• Dark colour and robust taste
• Very dark colour and strong taste

2) Processing grade

3) Substandard

To be labelled as one of the A Grades, the syrup must not have an off-colour, must be uniform in colour, and must not contain any sediment. The golden and amber Grade A syrups are generally for table use, while the dark and very dark are used for cooking and baking.

If the syrup does not meet the standard of A Grades, it must be labelled as processing grade and cannot be sold in containers of less than 20 litres. It must be classified as substandard if it does not meet the processing grade standard, including a maple taste. Maple syrup does spoil. You should refrigerate the syrup after opening it and discard it after about a year if it remains unused.

Recipes

As mentioned above, maple syrup can be used in drinks, cooking, and baking as a substitute for sugar, honey, or other sweeteners. Many recipes are available online. Check out Maple from Canada for some delicious-sounding recipes.

The above essay is for entertainment and English language study only. For suggestions on how to use this post to improve your English reading and listening comprehension, click here.

Vocabulary

• sugar bush – noun; N Amer, a grove of sugar maples; also the word for a maple syrup farm
• species – noun; a class of things having some common characteristics; different types of maple trees (in this context)
• appropriate – adjective; suitable or proper; the right choice for the situation
• Indigenous – adjective; the aboriginal inhabitants of a region; the original people from a country or area
• filtration – noun; filtered liquid; the process or filtering a liquid
• accumulates – intransitive verb; form an increasing mass or quantity; to become more
• spigots – pl noun; a small peg or plug, esp. for insertion into the vent of a cask; a plug to stop liquid from leaking out
• induce – transitive verb; bring about; give rise to; make happen
• crystallize – transitive or intransitive verb; form or cause to form crystals; to cause lumps in a smooth liquid
• intricate – adjective; very complicated; perplexingly detailed; very detailed to suit the purpose
• efficient – adjective; productive with minimum waste or effort; easier, faster, and cheaper (in this context)
• membrane – a thin or pliable sheet or skin of various kinds; to force the water through (in this context)

Comprehension Questions

1. What is the basic taste of maple syrup?
   (a) salty, (b) sour, (c) bitter, or (d) sweet
2. What is a maple syrup farm called?
   (a) a sugar cube, (b) a sugar cookie, (c) a sugar bush, or (d) sugar pie, honey bunch
3. Where did some Indigenous tribes call the first full moon of spring?
4. Which country produces the majority of the world’s maple syrup?
   (a) The United States, (b) Canada, (c) Mexico, or (d) Brazil
5. Which province in Canada produces the most maple syrup?
   (a) British Columbia, (b) Alberta, (c) Ontario, or (d) Quebec
6. Have you ever been to a maple syrup festival?
   Yes or No
7. According to this article, is maple syrup good for you?
   Yes or No
8. Who makes the best-tasting maple syrup in the world?

Resources

• Wikipedia – Maple Syrup
• Cosman & Webb
• Maple From Canada

And Now For Your Listening Enjoyment

Here is Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs’ recording of “Sugar Shack”. It topped Billboard’s Hot 100 for five weeks in 1963 and was Jimmy’s first million-selling song. I’m fairly certain the Sugar Shack they are referring to in this song has nothing to do with maple syrup, but the title suits the project.

Lyrics

"Sugar Shack"
Sung by Jimmy & the Fireballs (1963)
Written by Keith McCormack and Faye Voss

There's a crazy little shack beyond the tracks,
And everybody calls it the Sugar Shack,
Well it's just a coffee house and it's made out of wood
Espresso coffee tastes might good
Thats not the reason I've got to get back
to that sugar shack

There's this cute little girlie she's working there
Black leotards and her feet are bare
I'm gonna drink a lot of coffee
Spend a little cash
Make that girl love me when I put on some trash

You can understand why I gotta get back
To that Sugar Shack
Whoa baby to that Sugar Shack
Yeah honey to that Sugar Shack
Oh yes to that Sugar Shack

And now that Sugar Shack Queen is married to me
We just sit around and dream of those old memories
Ah but one of these days
I'm gonna lay down tracks
In the direction of that Sugar Shack
Just me and her yes we're gonna go back
To that Sugar Shack
To that Sugar Shack
Yeah honey to that Sugar Shack
Yeah yeah to that Sugar Shack