Long-term consequences of climate change could mean fewer areas where maple syrup can be produced, or even fewer suitable trees to harvest from- sugar maples only thrive in regions with four-season climates and plenty of rainfall. But with winters in the Great Lakes having periods of warmer weather earlier and earlier in the year, the impact can be a shortened season and/or an inferior product. This might happen in late February or early March, and last a couple of weeks if conditions are good. Typically, the perfect maple syrup conditions start as the daytime temperatures climb above freezing and the nighttime temperatures sink back into the freezing. If temperatures remain above freezing, or rise too high, trees will begin forming buds and leaves and use the sugar-rich sap to do so. If temperatures rise above freezing, sap begins flowing to the branches. Under normal winter conditions, sap is stored frozen in the roots of a maple tree, where it gets nutrients from the soil. Unseasonably warm weather can be potentially catastrophic for maple syrup producers. The Effects of Climate Change on Maple Syrup If stored in a cool, dark place, maple syrup can be enjoyed for over a year after it was produced. Maple syrup is a natural source of sucrose and is free of any additives or artificial sweeteners. If the hydrometer floats at the 66 Brix (1 brix equals 1 degree of sugar content) mark, it is syrup and can be cooled and stored for enjoyment. Sugarbushes will use a hydrometer to test the liquid, which uses buoyancy to test the density of the syrup. Once the sugar content of the liquid is 66%, it is now maple syrup. The water in the sap gets heated and changes from liquid to gas, specifically water vapor. Boiling sap into syrup is, in culinary terms, a reduction. The sugar content in the Sugar Maple ( Acer saccharum) sap is about 2%, which makes it the most prized for maple syrup. Syrup can be made from other trees, too, like birch and sycamore, but maple syrup remains the most popular. By drilling or tapping a small hole in a maple tree and fixing a spile, the special tap that allows the sap to flow out into a container, maple sap can be collected for boiling. At night, sap will travel back into roots to be stored for the future. In the trees, frozen sap thaws and begins to flow into the branches. Many people know the delicious taste of maple, but do you know the science behind the flavor? In late winter, generally, the temperatures are above freezing during the day (32° F) and below freezing at night. According to the Michigan Maple Syrup Association (MMSA), there are currently over a hundred licensed sugarbushes, or maple syrup producers, in Michigan. Over the years, maple sugar and syrup production has been aided by the rise of mechanization and automation. The Europeans also gave tribes metal pots, pans, and more, which reduced the time to cook maple sap into sugar. When Europeans arrived in the region, they traded goods for this new, sweet sugar. Solid maple sugar was easier to store and trade than liquid syrup and archaeologists have found evidence of maple sugar in artifacts even from Southeastern tribes. Regardless of the origin story, many tribes in the northern regions were putting gashes in the maple trees to collect sap which would then be cooked down into syrup and sugar. The pair enjoyed a great dinner complimented by the sweet, smoky maple syrup. His wife later collected the water that flowed from the gash in the tree for cooking. One of the most popular is an Iroquois story about a chief named Woksis, who took his tomahawk out of a tree to go hunting. There are several legends on how different Native American tribes discovered the delicious nature of maple. Let’s look at the history of sugaring, the science behind it, and the effects of climate change of the maple sugaring season. But let’s explore three facets of maple sugaring. Throughout this shortened time, the Huron-Clinton Metroparks is proud to offer programs that demonstrate this centuries-old tradition. Because in late February, it is the arrival of maple sugar season. But there’s a special spot at the tail end of winter that makes many happy. And to others, it means the blooming of flowers. Or perhaps the awakening of reptiles, amphibians, and some mammals from hibernation. To some, the end of winter signals the arrival of migrating birds.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |