Food Holidays: December 17th, 2022

Welcome back to our series sharing Food Holidays: December 17th, 2022. Today is National Maple Syrup Day and while Pancakes sound good I am not to sure about Maple Syrup but I guess it couldn’t hurt to try some. Would you like to join me for breakfast?

National Maple Syrup Day

HISTORY OF NATIONAL MAPLE SYRUP DAY

The origins of the production of Maple Syrup can be traced back thousands of years to the Northeastern region of the United States. There, Maple Syrup was first gleaned from the abundant Maple Tree population by indigenous peoples. While it is uncertain as to how and why exactly the extraction process first began, it is inarguable that Maple Sap became a key ingredient in a variety of recipes. 

The arrival of European Colonists would allow for the introduction of Maple Syrup to the Old World, and their love for the taste of the arboreal byproduct was matched by their appreciation for its utility. It was a popular substitute for Cane Sugar, as this had to be imported from the West Indies region, and its ability to exist in both liquid and crystallized form made it an ideal source for concentrated Sugar. The colonists’ extraction methods differed from those of the indigenous peoples, and they would serve as the foundation for several subsequent iterations upon the process. Some Maple Trees may have even seen dozens of changes to the extraction procedures used upon them, as they can continue to be tapped for Sap for more than 100 years!

Today, the consumption of Maple Syrup is no longer reserved for chieftains or special celebratory events. Maple Syrup is not only used across the world, but production chains have even sprung up in Countries like Japan and South Korea. Canada now produces the vast majority of the world’s Maple Syrup supply with its total exports valued at more than $270 million. It may have happened at the rate of Molasses, but Maple Syrup is now known far beyond the pocket of the Northeast.

NATIONAL MAPLE SYRUP DAY TRADITIONS

Drink Maple Syrup!

While you might use Maple Syrup throughout the year over your foods, make it a tradition to mix it up by mixing Maple Syrup into Teas, Coffees, or mugs of Hot Chocolate! You can even try out different grades of Maple Syrup with different drinks to mix it up year-to-year.

Make a Maple Pilgrimage

While not everyone may have the privilege to do this, National Maple Syrup Day falls very close to the Christmas holidays. If it’s within your means, and you’re a hardcore Maple Syrup lover, consider making a tradition to vacation to places like Vermont or Quebec to show your Syrupy passion!

NATIONAL MAPLE SYRUP DAY ACTIVITIES

1. There is plenty of Maple Syrup tapping and processing kits online! Get outside and find a Tree, and collect Maple Syrup!
2. Head to the supermarket and pick up a few different kinds of Maple Syrup, take them home, and sample each with a pancake to find out which might be your favorite!
3. For those of you lucky enough to live in a State that produces Maple Syrup from Native Trees, get out and support Maple Syrup producers by buying a nice big jug of their Maple Syrup.

WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL MAPLE SYRUP DAY

1. Maple Syrup pairs with more things than you can imagine including Pancakes, Waffles, French Toast but have you ever let Maple Syrup make its way to your Bacon? Don’t just limit yourself to breakfast, though. Maple Syrup makes an awesome Glaze for all sorts of Root Vegetables, bringing out flavors you might never noticed.
2. There aren’t many foods that would seem worthwhile to stage a heist around. Wwith barrels of Maple Syrup valued at over a thousand dollars each, it’s easy to see why a truckload might be worth a boatload of cash.
3. While you might be wise to brush your teeth after having those Maple Syrup-soaked Pancakes, it’s hard not to love something that’s mostly Sugar!

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates