Patti: With those of you out there who’ve been watching my videos, you guys know that I’m all about sustainable cities. So today, I’m here at my Uncle Ted’s house where he is going to show me, and us how to make maple syrup. Come on.
Uncle Ted, thank you so much for showing me to tap a maple tree.
Uncle Ted: My pleasure.
Patti: Alright so this is a maple tree obviously. What kind of maple tree is it?
Uncle Ted: So it’s sugar maple. They’re very ensconced maple, but their sugar has the most sugar in it shaft.
Patti: Excellent! So you have something going right now.
Uncle Ted: Yeah I chopped this awhile ago and you can see that there’s sap in the bucket. (Yeah.) And it’s dripping out of the spout.
Patti: It sure is. So when did you tap this tree specifically?
Uncle Ted: Almost about a week ago.
Patti: Ok and so basically it just goes and it fills up and then you just switch it. (Um-um.) How long does that take for it to fill up?
Uncle Ted: Well for some days, a bucket will fill in one day. (Wow!) but normally it will take two or three days.
Patti: So how did you learn how to tap a maple tree?
Uncle Ted: Well, my dad did it when I was a kid and this is his original equipment.
Patti: Wow! That is so cool. (Yup.) So the buckets… (And the taps.) and the taps, oh my gosh, let me see this, that is so cool. Alright and we’re going to put this into the tree.
Uncle Ted: Ok.
Patti: It’s coming out. Look at it. Alright, so do you want to show me how to actually make the maple syrup from the sap? (Sure.) Alright. (Yup.) Let’s go.
Alright so what do we have over here? You’re boiling some of the sap right now? (Yup.) It smells amazing. It smells like cotton candy actually. (Oh really?) It’s what it reminds me of. Can I taste some? (Sure.) Alright so what do I do, I just go in? Oh my gosh, that is amazing, kind of sugar cane a little bit because it’s a little bit light. (Mm-mm.) It’s not, you know thick like syrup yet. (Yeah.) I guess.
Uncle Ted: Mm-mm, yeah. It almost tastes better at this state than it does when it’s gotten the syrup.
Patti: So how long does it take for the sap to actually boil down?
Uncle Ted: Well it takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup, (Wow.) so it takes a long time to boil it down.
Patti: Wow! Ok, so basically, you just put some in. You let it boil down and you add more?
Uncle Ted: Well, I fill the tub up and keep it for as long as it’s boiling.
Patti: Excellent. Should we put some more in?
Uncle Ted: Sure, do it.
Patti: So you already have some maple syrup already made up and you’re going to let me taste some, right? (That’s right.) Alright, let’s go. (Ok.)
This is just so good. I’m going to sit here and enjoy my waffles here. I’m Patti Moreno, the Garden Girl. Thanks for watching. Mmmm, yum.
Girl: Can I have a bite?
Patti: Yes.
