I was recently driving around the Northland and noticed several trees tapped for making pure maple syrup.  My first thought was that it's too early to be doing that, so I decided to do a little research and I quickly discovered I was wrong.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources:

Maple sap runs best when daytime temperatures are in the high 30s to mid-40s and overnight temperatures are below freezing. This cycle of above-freezing days and below-freezing nights needs to continue for several days, although nature occasionally has been known to provide a good run under less perfect conditions.

Sometimes sap flows as early as January or as late as May, but in Minnesota, sap usually runs from about March 15 to April 20.

Once sap is collected, the boiling process begins.  The Minnesota DNR states that it usually takes 30-40 gallons of sugar maple sap to produce one gallon of pure maple syrup.

I'm suddenly intrigued by making pure maple syrup.  If you'd like to get more details on the process, follow the link below.  You'll find instructions on how to tap and make maple syrup as well as a schedule of syrup making events across Minnesota that you could attend.

I'll make the pancakes.

 

 

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