Maple Syrup Hikes at Ryerson Woods

Today, I will be your maple syrup guide as you hike up your sweatpants in your seat. Here we go!

First question:
Which is more expensive? Pancake syrup or pure maple syrup?

Next:
Which takes more time and energy to produce? Same choices.

Finally:
Which tastes better?

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“I learned everything there is to know about maple syrup, the different trees in our area, and how wildfires affect them. That was fascinating. The guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The maple syrup and ‘candy’ tasted delicious!”

“You get what your pay for” is a tried and true phrase that we inevitably come to face as the truth. It’s quality that we can fully appreciate with all our senses. Money can’t buy good taste. Or can it?

Lisa, my mom, our friend Scott, and I gathered at Ryerson Woods for a late winter Maple Syrup Hike. The “Hike” part of the event description was ambitious. What should have been promoted more was the journey to appreciate pure maple syrup. We all arrived at the same destination. If the journey was half the fun, then the getting there must have been the acquisition of good taste.

With us stepping into a classroom setting, our guide probably saw us simple as maple water. We were taught a brief lesson about sugar maple tree biology and annual processes. We also got to sample maple water and pure maple syrup. These samples were procured from the local sugar maple trees at Ryerson Woods. The answer arrived to us clear as crystal. This was not from a log cabin or talking bottle. After we boiled it all down we all came to the same conclusion.

Our pancakes and waffles were going to cost a bit more. But with our appreciable good taste, our weekends were going to become the sweet life. Now we’re getting somewhere!

“The maple syrup ‘candy’ tasted like Japanese brown sugar. I learned a lot, especially how long it takes to make pure maple syrup. That explains its value!”

In the woods after a modest walk, our group gathered before a sugar maple with a metal spile and collection bucket. Our guide explained that this time was actually the second wave of this year’s maple syrup season. Due to the unusual winter weather pattern earlier, the first wave occurred in January, something off the charts. The knowledgeable staff was caught out since that was quite early.

Because of the unpredictable start to the maple syrup season, by now we were close to the end of it entirely. Some of the maple trees were beginning to bud. The metal collection bucket contained maple water, although it was slightly cloudy, known as “buddy sap.” This is generally undesirable since the taste as maple syrup would be slightly off. Whenever the maple trees bud, then it would be time to shop for swimwear because by summer, stores will be selling coats.

Following our walk in the woods we stopped at the small farm to take in the steaming hot evaporator. Also working hard was our guide who kept feeding the fire and checking on the maple water up top. She demonstrated that it takes 40 gallons of maple water to fill one standard container of pure maple syrup. According to sources, the average U.S. price of pure maple syrup is between $5 to $8 for a couple ounces. Be good to yourself and feed your fire something pure and natural. What price do you put on your health and quality of life?

As with all things sweet, we must enjoy in moderation. The beauty is that pure maple syrup contains a lot of flavor, so less is needed, and where less is more could be the natural presence of minerals and antioxidants. Darker syrups are collected during warmer temperatures while amber syrups the colder months. Longer or shorter boiling times can yield stronger or lighter tastes. Dark syrups are favored for baking while amber syrups can be drizzled over my weekend breakfast—the sweet life.

“Every year, we get excited when the trees start to bud, but the maple syrup season happens before that. The drilling experience was a very good hands-on experience. The big evaporator was also very interesting, especially learning about the multiple-stage process. I’ve had maple water before in the stores, and this tasted the same!”

After we returned home, we were educated and stimulated to duck behind a stack of pancakes or waffles. Would we reach for a plastic bottle of doctored corn syrup or glass bottle of natural goodness? You get what you pay for. After the previous comments from Scott, my mom and Lisa, I summarized: “This was our third maple syrup hike. The guide helped us put old and new lessons together with practical demonstations. I understood the cost of maple syrup by appreciating the time and energy spent by the trees and people that work together to make pure maple syrup!”

 

Which tastes better? You wouldn’t buy cheap food for your baby, furry or otherwise. Why would you do that to yourself? Do it for yourself. Money can’t buy good taste, but you can buy something that tastes good and is good for you.

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