Late winter/early spring means getting ready for Maine’s maple sugar weekend. We thought we’d jump in with all things maple sugaring to give you a primer on what goes on behind the scenes of working with maple tree sap. It’s a lot of work, but the sweet rewards are a lot of fun. We’ll give you a few ideas of what to do with maple treats, and we’ll give you tips on where to find local fare.
Maple Syrup Madness
Do you know how many gallons of maple sap are needed just to make one bottle of syrup for your breakfast table? To make one quart of the delicious stuff, about 10 gallons of sap will be required! By tapping a little spout (called a spile) into a tree – a sugar maple tree is best – the sap will flow out during the natural awakening of the tree from its winter slumber. A collection bucket will gather the sap in preparation for boiling it down. Boiling the sap for hours and hours will help to evaporate off the water, thicken the liquid, and eventually become sweet enough to top any pancake pile. Take a look at some instructions; maybe you’ll start your own sugar shack someday!
Maine Maple Sunday
Mark your calendar for the 4th Sunday in March. It’s always Maine Maple Sunday! Visit some of the nearly 100 sugarhouses open this day with special treats and activities. It is a celebration of all things maple sugar/syrup related. Not only is the celebration a time to taste lots of maple-y things, but other events like tours, syrup-making demonstrations, and hay rides will also be happening. Another great resource shows all of the participating sugarhouses.
Maple Treats To Buy and Make
While visiting Blue Hill Inn, we suggest stopping by a couple of shops to find maple-themed goods. Bucklyn Coffee makes a lovely maple latte! Stop by the grocers Blue Hill Co-Op and Hannaford to pick up some local goods. Once you’ve stocked up on maple candy and syrup, we have a couple of recipes highlighting the season’s flavors.
- For breakfast: French Toast Sticks with Cinnamon Maple Yogurt Dip
- For dinner: Baked Beans with Maple Glazed Bacon
- For a nightcap: Maple Old-Fashioned
Prefer to eat out? Check out the top Blue Hill Peninsula restaurants. We hope your appetite has been whetted for a visit to Blue Hill! This season is unique and so sweet (!), a time to make fun memories. Experience maple sugaring and all the joys of the season! Come for Maine’s Maple Sugar Weekend, and enjoy the experience with all five senses.
Looking to explore the Maine woods after all this maple sugar talk? Check out our list of the top winter trails near Blue Hill!
Published February 2023