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Making maple syrup is a very easy, fun, and exciting activity for the entire family. All that is required are a few maple trees, some very simple equipment, and the willingness to put in the effort making your own maple syrup. Making maple syrup is as easy as collecting maple sap and boiling it into syrup. The process of making maple syrup is an age-old tradition of the North American Indians, who used it both as a food and often as a medicine. Very little has changed since the American Indian first discovered how to tap maple trees and get its sweet sap. The process of making maple syrup has not changed in all these years. You boil the sap to remove the water and produce maple syrup. The trees need to be tapped in the early spring, or late winter months. After the sap is collected it is boiled to make the maple syrup. Making 1 gallon of syrup requires boiling down about 40 gallons of sap, which is a slow and labor intensive process. The most important process in making maple syrup is lots of heat. The groves of maple trees that grow in the Northeastern United States and Canada arecalled the sugarbush, and the process of producing maple syrup is called sugaring. Making maple syrup is one of Agriculture's oldest natural commodities. The history of Maple Syrup is nearly as old as the land itself. Maple syrup is a true American food, and the art of making maple syrup is generally attributed to Native Americans. The native population of North America was making maple syrup before Europeans first arrived. You can make your own maple syrup with very little equipment, and you may already have most of these items. Much of the equipment can be acquired from your local store, and the items that are unique to making maple syrup such as spiles, (spouts) hydrometers, and finishing filters can be found at maple syrup equipment suppliers, or even online. The fact is most people are not aware of the many different uses of maple syrup, other than the usual 'pancakes and syrup'. You should try pure Maple Syrup on ....grapefruit, plain yogurt, winter squash, or sweet potatoes. You can use it as a glaze on meat, or poultry and over ice cream for an outstanding dessert. For a special treat try it in coffee, milk or a milkshake. The uses for maple syrup are never-ending. Maple syrup is one agricultural crop in which there is no surplus. Maple syrup is only produced in North America, because Europe does not have the proper weather conditions conducive to making meaningful amounts of sap. All maple syrup is not created equal, and producing maple syrup is a source of pride for many Northeastern States in the US, and most of Canada. Maple syrup is boiled even further to produce maple cream, sugar, and candy, and is a natural sweetener that has many health benefits. Fresh maple syrup is truly one of the first signs of spring. If you would be interested in making maple syrup for yourself, you will find step by step instructions, along with a complete list of the necessary equipment at http://www.michiganmaplesyrup.net
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Ken Asselin is webmaster for the Selections Guide series of information and shopping websites. You can visit his Making Maple Syrup website at: www.michiganmaplesyrup.net
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