Maine Stories

How can you tell if a Maine sugarhouse is making maple syrup? Look for steam rising from the sugarhouse roof. It’s the sure sign that sap is being boiled to create sweet, golden syrup in a process that has become a rite of spring for many Maine families.

Sugarhouses and sugaring operations on family farms begin collecting sap from sugar maple trees at the start of March. Boiling the sap starts immediately to prevent it from going bad. Some sugarhouses offer sap-to-syrup events on weekends where visitors can tap trees for collecting sap, see how sap is transported to the sugarhouse, and learn how a large evaporator turns 40 gallons of sap into one gallon of syrup. When sugaring operators are open they offer syrup samples, and bottled syrup, maple candy, maple whoopie pies, maple coffee and tea and other treats for sale. Sugarhouse tours, wagon rides and syrup making demonstrations are also offered.

On Sunday, March 25, sugarhouses around the state will hold open houses for the annual Maine Maple Sunday. On this day locations will have special events, full breakfasts and lots of free samples of maple treats. For more information about Maine Maple Sunday visit www.getrealmaine.com/visit/maine_maple_sunday.html.