Maple syrup

Although maple trees also grow in Europe, Europeans never knew they could be used to make syrup and use it in cooking. This innovation was introduced to them by American colonists, who, in turn, learned the secret of syrup-making from Native Americans. Native Americans have long used maple as a source of sugar.

After the colonists learned to make maple syrup, they realized that chopping down maple branches, as they had done previously, was not a good idea. Not only did it produce a large amount of waste, but it also significantly damaged the trees. So they began using special axes, troughs, and buckets. They would make a hole in the tree's bark, extract as much sap as needed from the living maple, then seal the hole with a medicinal compound, allowing the maple to continue growing. Birch sap is collected in a similar manner in Russia.

Currently, maple syrup producers recommend using no more than three notches on the tree and collecting the maple sap in hanging galvanized buckets.

Maple syrup is only produced in North America because Europe and other countries do not have the right weather conditions for maple trees to grow properly, so the maple sap is unfit for consumption.

We offer recipes for dishes with maple syrup:

• Pancakes with maple syrup and berry sauce
  
• Pancakes with apples and thick maple sauce
  
• Salmon in soy sauce and maple syrup
  
• Oven-baked bacon with maple syrup and pepper
  
• Apple-Maple Glaze
  
• Maple ice cream with grillage and bacon
  
• Manhattan cocktail with maple syrup
  
• Martini with bourbon, beer, and maple syrup