Long, cold Canadian winters can lead to cabin fever -- frustrated kids and adults desperate for some outdoor fun. Shake off the winter blahs and take a family trip to visit a sugar bush. Learn about the history of maple syrup in Canada and take part in a traditional "sugaring off," and see how maple syrup is made. Then try some of our Test Kitchen's recipes in Tap into tradition and Get sweet on a Canadian tradition. It's a delightful way to spend the day that the whole family will enjoy.
Maple syrup history 101
Maple syrup isn't just delicious pancake topping, it has a noble place in Canadian history. No one is certain how long native Canadians have been harvesting maple sap, but records dating as far back as the 17th century describe the earliest sugar bushes in Québec and Eastern Ontario. Aboriginal peoples, and then European settlers, used simple but effective methods to harvest the sap. A diagonal or v-shaped cut was made in the maple tree and a reed was inserted to collect the running sap. It was then poured into large clay or bark containers and boiled using hot rocks until the liquid reduced. ‘Maple taffy' was made by pouring thick syrup onto fresh snow -- a technique still used today. Even in the 1600's, it wasn't just a sweet treat. Maple syrup and sugar provided essential energy and nutrients that helped early people survive long, cold winters when food was scarce.
Find a sugar bush
Depending on the weather, the maple syrup season usually runs from March or the end of April. Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have many Sugar Shacks that are well organized and offer activities that will engage young and old alike.
