March is Maple Syrup Month in Northern New England. With warmer days, sap starts to run in maple trees. It can take as much as 45 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. There is an entire industry set up to tap trees, collect the sap and boil it to it’s finished sweetness and texture. It is an art and lots of fun for families who visit Sugar Houses during the month. .

When you buy syrup look for different grades:

*Grade A Light Amber is very light, has a mild, delicate maple flavor, and is used for making maple candy and maple cream.

*Grade A Medium Amber is a bit darker, has more maple flavor,and is the most  popular grade for table syrup.

*Grade A Dark Amber is darker yet, with a strong maple flavor.

*Grade B, sometimes called a cooking syrup, is very dark with a rich maple taste as well as a hint of caramel flavor. Because of its strong flavor, it is most often used for baking, cooking and as flavoring in specialty foods.

If you have never tried maple syrup, it is a treat. You can order a bottle from our website www.farmersalmanac.com - click on shop. We have a Light Amber and a Dark Amber to choose from. Enjoy.