Syrup, Snow, and Sips: My First Maple Syrup Making Experience

I am always on the lookout for new experiences, and I recently had an adventure in the Midwest that I have to share with you. It involved syrup, snow, and sips (of beer, of course). It’s maple syrup making time!

My friend’s family has a tradition of making maple syrup in their backyard, and I was lucky enough to join in on the fun. Maple syrup truly is a labor of love. So, yup, you better not waste a drop!

Step 1: Sap Collection

Our adventure began with collecting sap from maple trees in their backyard, which, by the way, was my favorite part of the process aside from tasting. It was a beautiful and snowy day, and we spent a good few minutes climbing the small hill where his dad had tapped the maple trees. Jugs were full, and we filled up several buckets. 

Step 2: Boiling Down

Over the next two days, we spent a lot of time boiling the sap over an open fire, and let me tell you, it was no joke. We had about 75 gallons of sap to boil, and we did it all in an open fire in the snow. It was also my first time seeing snowfall, and I was so excited! It made the experience magical. The tropical girl in me could not believe I was outside the whole day when it was cold. But I enjoyed every snowflake that landed on me.

We spent hours by the open fire, drinking beer and sharing laughs. It was a great bonding experience.

Step 3: Finishing and Canning

As we were getting close to finishing the boiling process, we moved the sap inside and finished boiling it on the stove. This gave us better control over the temperature, and we could make sure the syrup was perfect. His dad has been doing this for years, and he can tell when to remove the sap from the open fire. After it was all done, we canned it.

To wrap up our two days of maple syrup making, we had a foiled dinner cooked on coals from the open fire. Carrots, potatoes, and hamburger meat wrapped in foil – yum!

Overall, this was an incredible experience that I am so grateful to have had. I picked up a lot about how to make maple syrup, spent time with people I care, and enjoyed some delicious homemade syrup. So, if you ever have the chance to participate in a maple syrup-making tradition, take it. 

Oh, guess what we had for breakfast the next day!