Maple Syrup: From Tree to Treat

Take a tour through the steps of making maple syrup

(1) Nature's sugar factory: The Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum)

(2) Each year spiles are tapped into new holes in the maple trees

(3) The sap flows in a tubing and piping system under vacuum

(4) The sap flows into a small collecting tank in a pumphouse

(5) From the tank it's then transferred to a large storage tank at the sugar camp

(6) The sap is concentrated from 2% to 10% sugar content in a reverse osmosis machine

(7) A smaller tank stores the enriched sap before the next step

(8) Next a large oil-fired evaporator boils most of the water from the sap

(9) The syrup is checked for correct density, between 66.5% and 68% Brix, with a refractometer

(10) The finished syrup is held at 85 degrees celsius in a canning unit and bottled

(11) The finished product!

(12) No treat tastes as good as fresh maple taffy on snow!