Trees are tapped by drilling a hole and inserting a spile, or tap, into the hole. A bucket is hung from the hook to collect the clear drops of sap. The sap is collected during the late winter or early spring and boiled to create delicious maple products.
Forty gallons of sap are required to make just one gallon of maple syrup. As it boils, it becomes thicker and thicker. By cooking maple syrup longer, the syrup thickens to make other products, such as maple candy.
Once the maple candy reaches the appropriate temperature, it is placed in candy molds.
Have you ever had maple candy? Do you buy real maple syrup?
~ Annette Whipple
