Well, we had visitors from all over New England, including New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and of course, Maine! Supply and Demand reared its economic head, setting higher prices ($10 per 8 oz), which nobody questioned. At the end of the day, folks arrived claiming that there was none to be had for miles around, even at the big places! Unfortunately, we had also sold out. We have a batch in the pan and are still collecting, so there'll be more available soon.
Recently in Maple Category
We'll be open from 9 to 4 on Sunday, and hope to see you there. Many people have asked for directions to our sugar house for Maine Maple Sunday. Here's a Google Maps link.
26 bottles of USDA Grade A Medium Amber. As the season wears on, the color will darken as the tree puts more minerals into the sap. Later runs will be Dark Amber, and then so dark as to be called Grade B. Color is also a pretty good indicator of flavor; lighter syrups have a more subtle flavor than the darker grades.
Our maple syrup now carries the Hechsher of the Vaad of Portland, which means that it's the only syrup available that's certified kosher by a local authority. Be sure to come out to our sugar shack on Maine Maple Sunday, which is March 22.
While many sugarhouses were putting in their first taps, we finished our first batch today! 30 8oz bottles of USDA Grade A Light Amber, or for the old timers, Vermont Fancy. Delicious and with a more subtle flavor than the Grade A Dark or even Grade B that often sells in stores, Light Amber typically comes at the beginning of the season and was prized by the early producers in North America as a substitute for Caribbean sugar, on which there was a substantial tax. Today, though, most people don't know that there are different grades of maple syrup.
If you get a chance, head out on March 22nd to a sugarhouse for Maine Maple Sunday to get a first-hand taste of this year's syrup.
Cooperative weather has yielded enough sap to begin boiling. If you're in the neighborhood, please stop in tomorrow after lunch to get a whif (and perhaps even a taste!) of that first maple syrup run!
AJ, Teddy and I spent the afternoon cleaning up in and around the saphouse. Unfortunately, the high-pressure washer had frozen, so we weren't able to use it on the buckets, but we'll try that tomorrow or next weekend. The pan looks good, and the weather's due to change soon.
