Sugar Bush

Many people find Michigan pure Maple Syrup to be the finest and tastiest in the world.

Try some today. We're sure you'll agree!

Sap flow in maple trees will not occur every day throughout the tapping season.  It occurs when a rapid warming trend in early to midmorning follows a cool night.  Thus, the amount of sap produced varies from day to day.  Normally, a single taphole produces from a quart to a gallon of sap per flow period, with a seasonal accumulation of 10 to 12 gallons per taphole likely.

Ziibaakdoke - collecting the sap

Ziibaakwad - maple sugar

Ziibaakdaaboo- maple sap

Facts:

• The production of pure maple syrup is the oldest agricultural enterprise in the U.S.
• In an average year, each taphole will produce about 10 gals of maple sap, enough for about a quart of pure maple syrup.
• A maple tree needs to be about 40 years old before it will be large enough to tap for syrup production.
• The maple season in Michigan starts in February in the southern counties and runs well into April in the Upper Peninsula.
• Maple sap is boiled to remove the water and comcentrate the sugars in a process called evaporation.

THE LEGEND OF MAPLE SYRUP

The Native Americans were the first people to make maple syrup, which can be expected, since they were the first inhabitants of North America, and th