Sunday, March 14, 2010

Sugar Rush: A Day at the Bronte Creek Maple Syrup Festival

Do YOU know where maple syrup comes from? I do NOW, after a fun, but COLD, blustery, and rainy day spent at the Bronte Creek Maple Syrup Festival! More rain poured than syrup, but bad weather meant no crowds! Here's a little recap of our day:


First, we were guided through the steps involved in tapping a maple tree to get the water that eventually becomes syrup by a lovely gal dressed in the turn of the century garb the maple farmers who once owned this plot of land would have worn while harvesting sap:

Step one: find a maple tree (apparently the syrup from the sugar maple tastes best). Measure said tree to ensure it is of an appropriate size (not all trees are best for tapping):

DSC00939


Next, drill a hole into the tree just past the outer bark
DSC00941


Next: insert the spigot or spout and hook pail to spout to catch the liquid
DSC00942


After several hours, provided it's the right temperature out (between -5 and +5 C), pail should slowly fill with water from the tree.
DSC00943


I tasted this tree water and must tell you it does NOT taste like syrup. It tastes like woody water.
DSC00947


Next step involves boiling the water down so that the actual water evaporates, leaving the maple sugar behind. In the 18th century, this process was done using pots over roaring wood fires.

DSC00949


In the 19th century, a modified stove, allowing for a broader surface area for boiling, and providing safer, more controlled places for the fire and smoke, was used.

DSC00951


Sorry, no photos of the factory drums now used to condense maple water into syrup. Suffice it to say, this is NOT how Aunt Jemima's maple syrup is boiled down nowadays!

After watching the tapping process, we got to see some vintage ladies distilling maple water even further into maple sugar.
DSC00953


After reaching the right temperature and liquid state, the maple sugar is poured into moulds then left to cool. The finished product is maple candy!
DSC00956


On the other side of the maple candy barn was a vintage photo studio, where we got to dress up in late Victorian costumes and get some fun pictures in an old buggy. I know it's historically inaccurate that we are smiling, but it was just TOO fun!

victorianphotoM


Finally, a tour of the Victorian mansion once lived in by the farming family who operated a maple syrup business on the land where the park now sits.

Just call me Anne, Anne of Green Gables (actually, call me Wild Woman of the Woods--it was too darn cold and muddy to be fashionable! For the record, I am wearing a vintage sweater, a lumberjacket plaid dress by Family Affairs [which is actually really adorable when not covered up by bulky sweaters], and my trusty Hunter wellies)
DSC00958


Check out the glorious ceiling and wallpaper!!
DSC00965


Oh, Matthew! Oh, Marilla! Puffed Sleeves!
DSC00971


Then it was on to the pancake house where we gorged ourselves on pancakes, pure maple syrup, and maple sausage. Then, after a short sugar spike, we crashed into pancake induced narcolepsy....and then we had to go get our taxes done. WHEW! What a day!

16 comments:

Stefanie Valentine said...

Mmm maple sugar, it looks so yummy! What is maple sausage though?
You look very cute btw! xx

debra@dustjacket said...

Oh yummy, my kinda day. Loved this post honey, looks like a fun day...if somewhat cold, you poor thing.
xoxo

Starr Crow said...

this is such a cool post! what a fun (and educational) day that must have been for you and the hubby. love your outfit and the victorian photo. :) (btw, your shop is the most amazing place. so many priceless dresses in there.)

Emily said...

I love your outfit!! Super cute! And that picture you guys took there in the buggy is so adorable....love how it even has an old border!

Em said...

Great post! Loved your cute lady lumberjack outfit and that crazy wallpaper and ceiling are tops!

A Whimsical Girl Named Debbie said...

Sounds like such a grand ole time! And you looked darling, I might add! That wallpaper was cool, too!

http://girlwhimsy.blogspot.com

Francy said...

Love your outfit, and the last photo is SO Anne of Green Gables. Looks like a great day!

pixiedrivein.blogspot.com

Kori said...

Wow! Really interesting post honey! Great photos! Kori xoxo

Angel said...

Is it strange that I don't like maple?

You look great in the Victorian style photo.

I left you an award here: http://angelsstylescrapbook.blogspot.com/2010/03/10-facts-about-me.html

BaronessVonVintage said...

Maple sausage is sausage that is infused with maple essence (i.e. smoked using maple wood and/or made with the inclusion of maple syrup or maple flavouring).

Glad you enjoyed coming along with me on my Victorian Canadian adventures!

Angel, I used to HATE the taste of most things maple, especially maple cookies, but the REAL maple products I tasted on the weekend were YUMMY. So, I think it's artificial maple flavouring I hate (just like I don't like artificial "watermelon" or "blueberry" flavoured candies).

BaronessVonVintage said...

Oh, a note on the Victorian photo...they gave us some black and white digital pics on a usb and I went home and made them even more vintage looking by adding the frame, etc. hee hee..

BaronessVonVintage said...

Starr--thanks so much for your kind words about my shop. I'm definitely working hard to make it better everyday. This is a very flattering comment and I really appreciate it.

Lesley Ann said...

What fun!

BombshellShocked said...

Please believe me when I say that I am totally jealous. I love this kind of outing!!

BaronessVonVintage said...

K, Bombshell, I'll come to Chicago, you come to Canada and I'll show you the sights!!!!

park ranger said...

Glad to hear you had a great time... yes you were one of the few people who ventured out during the raining weekend. The picture looks great. ---Bronte Creek Park Ranger.