Do the words “sweet”, “warm” and “cozy” entice your senses? If so, a visit to a Sugar Shack may be just what you need! In the Northeast, the month of March is known to many as “Maple Month.” It is usually celebrated by visiting a Sugar Shack and devouring maple goodies – like maple syrup (of course), maple sugar candy, maple donuts, and maple kettle corn. With its warm days and cold nights, March is the ideal time for sugaring. This year, I made a my first visit to a Massachusetts Sugar Shack!
I wasn’t very familiar with the process of making maple syrup, but after visiting “The Red Bucket Sugar Shack” in Worthington, Massachusetts, I learned a bit more about how it is produced. At a Sugar Shack, the sap is collected from maple trees using a long, winding tube system. After it is collected, the sap is then boiled down and deliciously sweet syrup remains.
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Sugaring season runs from late winter to early spring. As the season progresses the syrup becomes darker in color and the maple taste becomes stronger.
After learning about the production, I was ready for the tasting!
Inside the dining area of “The Red Bucket Sugar Shack”, I cozied up next to the wood burning stove and enjoyed a warm maple donut then french toast, heavily covered in fresh maple syrup. *drooling*
An annual trip to a Sugar Shack is certain to make the final, long days of winter pass more sweetly!
Have you ever been to a Sugar Shack? Where was it?
What are your favorite maple flavored foods?
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