When the colours of fall turn to gray, it is time to start preparing for the cold. Back to comfort meals cooked in the oven, and while it’s hot, why not throw in some baking treats?
For many years now, I have banned white refined sugar from my grocery list. In all my recipes, I replace sugar with maple syrup and the result is spectacular. For example, I always make my holiday ginger bread cookies with maple syrup. Maple syrup is not only delicious, it is produced locally and it brings a unique and subtle sweet taste to any preparation. Japanese call it the 5th taste or « umami ».
10 Amazing Things to Know About Maple Syrup
1. It is our nation’s pride and joy—the maple tree leaf is on our Canadian flag!
2. Canada is responsible for 82% of the global production—75% of it comes from Quebec.
3. Maple syrup is distributed in 52 countries around the world, including Asia, where it is growing in popularity.
4. Maple syrup contains 54 anti-oxidants, including the newfound Quebecol, which is unique to this product. (A research now in progress will soon reveal that maple syrup also carries anti cancer elements.)
5. It takes 40 pints of maple sap to make 1 pint of maple syrup.
6. Maple syrup is good sugar and it is full of great minerals. 2 tablespoons of maple syrup provides 100% Daily Value of manganese, 37% of riboflavin, 18% of zinc and 7% of magnesium.
7. The first modern wooden sugar shacks was opened in 1868.
8. 2013 was a record year in terms of production, our national reserve now holds 60 million pounds of maple syrup.
9. There are 7,300 maple producers in Quebec only, and the industry creates 10,000 jobs every year.
10. After 7 years of research to market the product, pure maple water is now available for sale in SummerHill Markets and health food stores across Canada. For more info: eauderablenapsi.ca
Maple syrup is great all year round, especially when it gets cold because it is such a heart warmer and a family pleaser. It is also great to try other maple products such as maple butter, which is great for maple truffles or another one of my favourite for the Holiday Season, is Maple Mendiants with maple sugar nuggets.
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