How it's Made - Maple from Canada (2024)

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How it's Made - Maple from Canada? ›

Maple Syrup Evaporation

The province of Quebec is by far the largest producer, representing 96.4 per cent of Canadian product exports. Maple syrup and maple sugar products are made by boiling down the sap of maple trees.

Canada produces 71% of the world's pure maple syrup, 91% of which is produced in Quebec. Canada's maple syrup producing regions are located in the provinces of Quebec (primary producer), Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

Maple Sap Becomes Syrup through Evaporation

In the evaporator, the sap is boiled for several hours at a temperature of 104° C, until the sugar content and other molecules attain a level of 66%, known as 66 degrees Brix. It takes an average of 40 litres of sap to make one litre of maple syrup.

After all, Canada produces over 75% of the world's maple syrup, most of which is harvested in Quebec.

Real Canadian maple syrup is an all-natural product whose flavor profile changes with grade and production process, unlike artificial syrups which are usually corn syrup flavored with artificial ingredients. Its versatile flavor profile includes caramel, vanilla, and spice undertones that go well with many dishes.

While it lacks vitamins, maple syrup is rich in certain minerals, such as manganese. It also has antioxidants that may offer health benefits, such as lowering cholesterol and supporting brain health. But, its high sugar content can lead to tooth decay and further health problems for people with diabetes.

The sap of a sugar maple tree (Acer saccharum) is 98 percent water and 2 percent sugar—and it is that 2 percent that will yield a delicious sweetener. It takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup, and it is simply by boiling the sap to remove water and thus concentrate the sugar that makes maple syrup.

Does Maple Syrup Go Bad? As it turns out, maple syrup does have a shelf life once opened, and mold is not as uncommon as we thought. StillTasty.com indicates that 100 percent pure maple syrup should keep for a year unopened in the pantry, a year opened in the refrigerator, and indefinitely in the freezer.

Trees that can be tapped include: sugar, black, red and silver maple and box elder trees. Of all the maples, the highest concentration of sugar is found in the sap of the sugar maple. Generally the ratio of sap to syrup for the sugar maple is 40 to 1 (40 gallons of sap yields one gallon of syrup).

What country has the best maple syrup? ›

That being said, the fact that Canada is a world-leading figure in terms of maple syrup allows for a vast variety of quality and grades in the country. Whatever your taste buds dictate you, you always have access to an array of options and the choice is yours for the taking.

The Canadian province of Quebec is the largest producer of maple syrup, responsible for nearly 70 percent of the world's output. Here in the U.S., the leading maple syrup producing state is Vermont, which has nearly 5.6 million taps and a population of only 630,000 people.

Vermont consistently produces the most maple syrup in the United States, producing more than half a million gallons each year.

Virtually all of the world's maple syrup is produced in Canada and the United States.

Built to hold 133 million pounds of syrup, the reserve has dwindled to just 6.9 million pounds, a fraction of where it sat just four years ago. Now, as the sugaring season runs on after a balmy winter-that-wasn't shattered historical records, producers are eyeing taps with concern.

That being said, the fact that Canada is a world-leading figure in terms of maple syrup allows for a vast variety of quality and grades in the country. Whatever your taste buds dictate you, you always have access to an array of options and the choice is yours for the taking.

When people think about maple syrup, they usually think about Canada. Of course, it should come as no surprise that Canada is the top producer of maple syrup in the world.