The first to discover the making of maple syrup are the Native Americans. Legend has it that a Native American chief hurled his tomahawk at a tree, and that the sap ran down the handle and into a bucket below. His wife, thinking it was water, boiled it to cook a meal, and as it reduced it turned into the tasty treat we know as maple syrup today.
One of
New Hampshire's most enduring rites of spring-the maple sugar season - usually lasts about 4-6 weeks, although the days and length of the sap runs depend entirely on the weather. Maple sugaring time in New Hampshire occurs from mid-February to mid-April. During those weeks, the New Hampshire maple industry produces close to 90,000 gallons of maple syrup.
With daytime temperatures warming to the high 30's and nights still below freezing, maple sugaring season gets into full swing here in New Hampshire during the month of March with March Maple Madness on the 4th Sunday.
Webster Place has 25 sugar maples around the property. You can learn how to drill and tap a maple tree. Then, as recycled wood burns, will be able to see up close the workings of a sugarhouse where you can experience the sweet smell of warm maple waffling through the air as you
learn the ABC's of making syrup. After you come in from the brisk air you can settle down to a hot cup of hot chocolate. Best off, in the morning, you will be able to enjoy a full maple breakfast smothered in home made syrup just like Daniel Webster used to eat. If you are real lucky, you might be able to sample warm syrup as it cools down from being bottled. There are more opportunities to get creative as well experimenting with maple syrup recipes to create maple treats both savory and sweet.