Spring time in New England means maple syrup making season is upon us. While you can buy maple syrup any week of the year in New England, the sap is only tapped from the special maple trees and made into syrup in the New England states for a brief six weeks during the spring months.

And that means… well, right about now.

Most of the syrup is harvested from the sugar maple tree variety but other types of maples yield this liquid gold as well. All six states have maple producer associations that list sugarhouses or shacks where you can go and watch the sap being turned into syrup.

But you’ll have to hurry…

Because they’re deep into the season all ready. From Connecticut to Maine just follow the smoke rising in the woods and the sweet smell of sugar in the air, to find your local sugarhouse.

To help you in the hunt and to provide some background information and history I’ve compiled a resource list for you.

Enjoy.

Maple Syrup Producers Resource List:

Connecticut Maple Producers (PDF File)
Maine Maple Producers
Massachusetts Maple Producers
New Hampshire Maple Producers
Rhode Island Maple Producers
Vermont Maple Producers

Resources on History of Maple Syrup:

History of Maple Syrup in Massachusetts
The World of Maple Syrup according to Wikipedia
History of Maple Syrup in the United States for Teachers
New England Maple Museum

How to Make Your Own Maple Syrup:

Of course access to a tree helps unless you have an understanding neighbor, but assuming you have a tree, check these out to astonish your friends with home-made syrup…

Making Your Own Maple Syrup Article from Massachusetts Producers Association
University of Maine Article on Do-It-Yourself Maple Making (PDF File)
University of Cincinnati Article on Tapping Maple Trees

Free Recipes Using Maple Syrup:

Bunch of Maple Syrup Recipes from the Yankee Grocery
Cooking with Maple Syrup from Linda Joyce Forristal
Host of Recipes using Maple Syrup from the Vermonter Magazine

Books on Maple Syrup:

The Maple Syrup Book
Backyard Sugarin’

So this Maple Syrup resource list should keep you going for awhile. And don’t forget even if it’s the height of summer go pay a visit to one of the farms on the producer list and pick up something maple to remember your visit to New England.

Back in a few days time with another post,

Cliff Calderwood
Editor
Online Guide to New England Vacations

Related posts:

1. Maple Syrup In New England
2. 2009 Vermont Maple Syrup Season off to Good Start
3. March is Maple Sugarhouse Month in New England
4. Celebrate the 40th Vermont Maple Festival – "Something for Everybody"
5. Exploring New England – A New Resource for Visitors