Maple Syrup

nature · food · trees · canada

Trees make sugar. Maple trees store starch in their trunks during winter, then convert it to sugar that rises up in the sap when spring arrives.

Sap is tapped carefully. Farmers drill small holes into maple tree trunks and collect the clear sap that flows out, kind of like tapping into nature's juice box.

Heat makes the magic. The collected sap is heated up to evaporate most of the water, which concentrates all the natural sugars into thick, delicious maple syrup.

Needs cold winters. Maple syrup production works best in cold climates where trees have harsh winters to trigger the sugar-making process in spring.

Tasty on everything. People drizzle maple syrup on pancakes, waffles, ice cream, and even use it to sweeten baked goods.