Vocabulary
What is sap?
A liquid that carries food to all parts of a tree; a sugary water in the tree.
What happens to sugar maple trees in the fall?
They turn colors (mostly yellow, orange and red).
What foods are most common to eat with maple syrup?
Pancakes, waffles, French toast.
What size is a good size for a tree to collect sap?
3 feet around the trunk (.91 meters)
What color is used to describe the different grades of maple syrup?
Amber
A building where sap is boiled and turned into maple syrup.
In what part of the world is maple syrup made?
Northeast of North America
What percentage of sap is water, and what percentage is sugar?
98% water; 2% sugar
How deep do does a sugarmaker drill the hole into the tree to be able to collect sap?
1-2 inches (2.5-5 centimeters)
How did Native Americans use maple syrup?
Syrup, candy, flavor to all kinds of food; trade/money
What is a sugar bush?
An area with many sugar maple trees.
What time of year does sugaring happen?
Late winter/ early spring (usually February, March, April)
How many gallons of sap does it take to make one gallon of syrup?
40
When sugarmakers are using tubes to connect trees to the sugar shack, what natural force helps them?
Gravity
How old does a tree need to be, before it's able to be used for its sap?
40-45 years.
What is an evaporator?
A large metal tank in which sap is boiled and turned into syrup.
What specific temperature conditions need to happen in order for the sap to flow?
The temperature needs to be below freezing at night and above freezing during the day.
What percentage of the world's maple syrup supply is produced in Canada?
85% (80%-90% is an acceptable answer)
How does the sugarmaker know when sap becomes syrup? (What temperature does the sap have to get to?)
It must reach at least 218 degrees fahrenheit (103.3 degrees celsius).
For how many years can you use a sugar maple for sap?
~100
A spout that gets inserted into a tree to collect sap.
Name 3 states and/or provinces that have a lot of sugar maples.
How much maple syrup is produced each year?
25-30 billion gallons
What happens between the two times that the syrup is heated?
It is put through a filter to get rid of any bugs, dirt or tree bark.
When maple syrup is finished, what percentage is sugar?
66%-67% sugar