#maple-syrup

#maple-syrup

Carrots are one of the most perfect vegetables to make as a side dish. Aside from being easily available and inexpensive, carrots are a nutrition powerhouse loaded with essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They are also quite versatile, compatible with a number of vegetables, fruit, spices and herbs. You can simply boil or steam for a quick side or dress up your carrots to turn them into the star of the meal. Most importantly, you'll be hard pressed to find someone who loathes carrots.

turning maple sugar into a symbol of American refinement and bounty at a time when sugar was fairly luxurious. As time passed and the demand increased, it became more difficult to make the real thing. Companies started cutting back on actual maple in favor of cheaper ingredients like brown sugar or corn syrup and water to make syrup. These new syrups were advertised as more delicate or refined, even though they were essentially just sugar water.

Maple syrup is a sweetener made from the sap of maple trees, primarily sugar maples, by boiling the sap to concentrate the sugar. According to the Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America, Native Americans are generally thought to have been the first to tap maple trees and to turn the sap into syrup. The sap is less than 3% sugar; 32 to 40 gallons of sap boil down to just one gallon of syrup.

Darker maple syrups indicate stronger, higher-intensity flavors, while those with golden hues offer a more mild taste.

"Quebec produces approximately 90% of Canada's total 73% global production of maple syrup, showcasing its dominance in the industry over Vermont and others."

Vermont is known for its picturesque scenery, craft beers, and being the leading maple syrup producer in the U.S., exporting over 3.1 million gallons in 2024.