This week on Food For Thought, a taste of Big Leaf Maple Syrup, produced mainly on Vancouver Island. Here is an mp3 audio file for your listening pleasure. Here is an article explaining some of the research being done in this area.
The first ever Big Leaf Maple Syrup Festival held near Duncan was a roaring success. I got to try 15 different locally-produced syrups, and there were some real standouts, including the winner from Lawrence Lampson of Glenora Farms. He sold out of everything he had brought to the festival, but you might want to check to see if he has any more for sale. At left you can see one of the ‘Sapsuckers’, the local maple syrup producers’ club, pouring sap into an evaporator. Depending on the sugar content of the sap, it may take up to 70 litres of sap to create one litre of syrup.
Here is Paul Minvielle of Saltspring Island showing people how to tap maple trees to collect the sap. If you are interested you can find supplies and more information at Atkinson Maple Syrup Supplies.
Where can this maple syryp be purchased? Great to hear the big leaf maple can be tapped……hope we (west coast) produces as quality a product as Ontario?Quebec……
Well done Don – great audio clip!
Great piece, Don. It was the next best thing to being there. Will link it to my blog.
Cheers,
Julie
http://www.cottagedaily.com
Tapping maple tree is easier than most people think. It is a great way to teach your children about nature. For those looking for equipment and a guide to tap a few trees at home, take a look at http://www.TapMyTrees.com.