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Tis The Season    

Contact: NHMPA, 402 Route 103 East, Warner, NH 03278     (603)225-3757    

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Maple syrup is made in the Northeastern United States and Southeastern Canada, and the maple season usually lasts 4-6 weeks. The days and length of the sap runs depend entirely on the weather.

During those weeks, the New Hampshire maple industry produces close to 90,000 gallons of maple syrup.

Maple sugaring time in New Hampshire occurs from mid-February to mid-April.

As the frozen sap in the maple tree thaws, it begins to move and build up pressure within the tree.

When the internal pressure reaches a certain point, sap will flow from any fresh wound in the tree. Freezing nights and warm sunny days create the pressure needed for a good sap harvest.

Children love to gather sap...
Children love to gather sap.

In late February, New Hampshire maple producers tap their sugar maples by drilling a small hole in the trunk and inserting a spout. A bucket or plastic tubing is fastened to the spout and the crystal clear sap drips from the tree.

It is then collected and transported to the sugar house where it is boiled down in an evaporator over a blazing hot fire. As the steam rises from the evaporator pans, the sap becomes more concentrated until it finally reaches the proper density to be classified as syrup. It is then drawn from the evaporator, filtered, graded and bottled.

As the steam rises from the evaporator pans, the sap becomes more concentrated until it finally reaches the proper density to be classified as syrup. It is then drawn from the evaporator, filtered, graded and bottled. It takes approximately forty gallons of sap to make one gallon of pure maple syrup.

...and to taste sugar cooled on snow!
These younsters are sampling Sugar on Snow.

We hope you will visit a Sugar House during the maple season and learn for yourself just how this ancient tradition is carried on. New Hampshire's maple producers take great pride in the high quality of their maple products. Many sugar houses are open throughout the year, selling their pure maple delicacies. Click on our list of sugar houses for further information.

The New Hampshire Maple Producers Association encourages high quality maple production, promotes greater use of pure New Hampshire maple products through education and publicity, and strives to improve conditions affecting the maple industry.

The final product is sold from sugarhouses across the state.
The final product is sold from sugarhouses across the state.

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For all of your NH Maple information please contact:

NHMPA
Barbara Lassonde; Publicist
402 Route 103 East, Warner, NH 03278 (603) 225-3757

 

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