
Another of one of things I am absolutely certain about is if it is “real” maple syrup. Growing up on the border of New England and having gone to school in Connecticut I learned very early the difference between real and fake maple syrup. The fake stuff that many people call “maple syrup” or “real syrup” is just high fructose corn syrup, water, fake flavor, carmel color, and a bunch of other stuff I can’t pronounce. REAL Maple syrup is made from the sap of sugar maple, red maple, or black maple trees. I have seen the process first hand – you tap a tree by boring a whole into the trunk at hip level and collecting the sap the tree stored in it’s trunk and roots for winter. Once collected it is heated to evaporate the majority of the water and you are left with the delicious the concentrated syrup.
There was a place growing up my brother and I always use to go in Massachusetts called Grey’s Maple Sugar House. Every year we definitely did not care that they served food – we went to get the pure 100% New England Maple Syrup. Sure, we brought a gallon and brought it home but the real treat was to sit down at one of the long picnic tables and order maple sugar, straight. You received a small, steaming metal pitcher and a bucket of packed snow. To enjoy properly you poured the steaming syrup on the snow, watched it harden, and then ate it with a fork. True story. Apparently most people thought it was too sweet, so they served it with pickles but that was just not going to happen (and I still hate pickles). Just look at this deliciousness:

travel says
Howdy! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok.
I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.
Heather says
Ahhh my Kevin and Kelly
Michael says
Right there with you girl! Growing up in upstate NY makes you know what’s real and what’s not. We used to go to the Maple Festival in Marathon, NY every now and then. So good. I miss those maple leaf Duggar candies.
Paisley says
I honestly didn’t know that my beloved Aunt Jemima syrup wasn’t actual maple syrup until a few years ago. When I actually tried Grade A maple, I felt like a lightbulb had turned on in my head! It is SO much better it isn’t even funny.
xx,
Paisley
paisleynotplaid
whitney says
I’m with you – I grew up in Canada and am quite serious about what is considered real maple syrup or not. I hate the fake, sugary stuff, it’s pretty gross!
nicole says
This was really informative.. thank you for sharing! I love getting it organic from a local health food store! It’s so important to not eat all of the nasty chemicals in todays food!!!
ClassToCloset
footnotes and finds says
yum, real maple syrup on my pancakes! being canadian, i know all about the real maple syrup and yep fake syrup definitely can’t replace it!
http://www.footnotesandfinds.com
Kacie's Kloset says
Haha! My dad bought me some real maple syrup and you really can tell the difference! Also, I’ve tries the no sugar syrup and it is disgusting! I refuse to eat it! lol.
http://kaciesklosetblog.com/
KatiAnne says
Ah! Nothing can beat real maple syrup! Nothing ever 🙂
Susannah says
Oh my goodness, you are so right! I LOVE real maple syrup!
Alecz says
Real maple syrup is the best! The taste is totally different than the fake maple syrup.
http://forsevenseasons.wordpress.com
Alessandra says
Ok, I LOVE real maple syrup.. but i mean I’m Canadian and it’s kind of in our blood. 🙂
Chelsea Jacobs says
I did the snow thing too when I was a kid!
laura says
I love maple syrup. its delicious!