Ok, enough with the double entendres. We've got more important things to talk about here, things like maple syrup, and maple cotton candy. Yeah, it's pretty much the best thing in the world.
For those of you who read the Little House books, you may remember the maple candy made from pouring hot maple syrup on the snow. I (and my sister) have been obsessed with the idea of making candy in snow since--ok, obsessed might be too strong a word, but fascinated and unfulfilled with deep longing, certainly. So, moving to the maple syrup capital of the world was pretty exciting for me and I've been waiting for eight months for the sap to start running.The maple taffy on the snow was pretty tasty, and I am happy to have fulfilled my childhood dream, but the maple cotton candy made the taffy seem kind of sad. Mmm, maple cotton candy.
In addition to the sugary gluttony, I also learned a few things about maple syrup. Like the fact that the sap is clear. I knew the sap was cooked to get to the final product, but I always expected the sap to come from the tree looking a bit more syrupy. But, nope, it looks and tastes pretty much like water.The sap is reduced to 1/40th of its original volume to make
the syrup. These days, the metal bucket is just for the tourists and the bulk of the sap is collected from the trees through a series of tubes which deliver the sap to a central collection tank which then feeds into a huge vat in the sugar shack (on the right). The sap bubbles away, moving through a couple of different vats as it reduces. The reduced syrup is collected in a tank, to be filtered and bottled.We left with a jug of syrup, a block of maple sugar, and whispy maple cotton candy dreams that will hold me over until next year's sugaring off.
9 comments:
Yum. I want a block of maple sugar.
I have to say, though, I'm kind of bummed to learn that the bucket is just for tourists.
well, you know, that would be a lot of buckets to carry. we didn't get a good picture of the tubing, but it was pretty cool too.
I too have always wanted to observe such rituals, all due to the Little House books. I'm glad you got to go. And I'd like some maple cotton candy now. Please.
What an educational posting.
I have a love/hate relationship with maple syrup. On the one hand, there is nothing better than maple syrup on a waffle. On the other hand, there is something about the aroma of maple syrup that connects almost inexorably to memories of car travel, IHOP, and ancient headaches. It's kind of unfair.
Nonetheless, I believe that maple cotton candy would right all of that bad old maple karma. What a wonderful thought.
I am enchanted! I was afraid, for a moment, that with all the Lenten posts that you were stopping eating the sugar. Happy day to see you happy with a maple cotton candy cloud.
Ha, ha I will never stop eating sugar. I've tried a few times to go a day--a day!--without sugar, and I can't do it.
Does the maple taffy taste anything like good ol' fashion honey candy?
nell, it was nothing like honey candy, but I bet that would be really amazing to use heavy maple syrup in the honey candy recipe. I'm going to try it!
I knew there were sure to be some amazingly nifty vicarious experiences waiting if only I could catch up on my blog reading.
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