10 Facts You Didn’t Know
About Maple Syrup.
In honor of National Maple Syrup Day on Dec. 17,
here are ten facts you may not have known.
1. Canada produces 80 percent
of the world’s maple syrup supply.
2. In Canada, syrup is broken down into four
hue-related categories: extra light (AA), light (A),
medium (B), #2 amber (C) and #3 dark (d).
3. The United States system of syrup categories consists
only of a lighter grade a syrup and a darker grade b syrup. .
4. There’s an organization dedicated to maple syrup called the
International Maple Syrup Institute. It was founded in 1975.
5. Commercial brand syrups are created with
inexpensive ingredients such as high fructose corn
syrup, cellulose gum and caramel coloring.
6. Roughly 40 gallons of sap are required
to make 1 gallon of real maple syrup. .
7. Most syrup-yielding trees only
supply 5 to 15 gallons of sap per season.
8. In Hadong, Korea, locals have commonly been known
to consume over five gallons of maple sap in one sitting.
9. Rather than use the traditional taps
and buckets method, most North American
operations use a system of tubing and vacuums. .
10. Alfred University, located in western New York,
offers an official maple production course.