As the snow and ice melt away with winter and spring comes in like a lamb, for many northeast towns in Canada, the time is come for maple syrup making. Trees are tapped, sapped and refined into pure maple syrup.

If you're visiting in Ontario or Quebec in Canada this spring or anytime in April, be sure to stop by one of these maple syrup farms to take a tour and taste maple syrup right from the tree!

History of Maple Syrup

Before it was maple syrup, it was first called "Ninautik" by the Ojibway and "Sinzibuckwud" by the Algonquin people in Canada hundreds of years ago. They would collect sap from trees, place hot rocks into the sap to bring it to a boil until all the water evaporated. . .

The end product would be a heavy molasses or sugar-like products. Later, European settlers developed a method which would create maple syrup. Today, that process is being continued and maple syrup remains one of Canada's famous and most unique products - producing about 85% of the world's maple syrup, a $147 million industry in 2003.

Making Maple Syrup

In February or March when winter begins to dwindle, maple syrup makers go out to "tap" their trees. Hundreds of years ago and today, snowshoes are used by the "tappers" to go through the forest to tap each individual tree.

Traditionally, a bucket would hang from the tap that would collect the sap that would ooze from the tree. Today, syrup-makers connect their taps with hoses and pumps which allow for easier collecting and a quicker process.

As the sap is collected, it is boiled and refined to get rid of most of the water until it is the perfect maple syrup consistency. Traditionally, cast iron kettles were used to collect and boil the syrup. Today, stainless steel containers are used.

Maple Syrup Festivals This Spring

All over Ontario and Quebec, Canada, maple syrup festivals are taking place throughout April to celebrate and showcase the best of Canada's maple syrup tradition. Fresh farm goods, recently packaged maple syrup bottles, pancake eating contests, maple syrup foods and recipes are found to entice and draw you in for a fun filled day.

Go here for Ontario Maple Syrup Festival information and festival dates; and go here for Quebec Maple Syrup Festival information and festival dates.

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