Going to a Maple Bush has always been on my bucket list. For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to see the taps up close, watch the sap drip into the buckets and learn more about the production of maple syrup.
I was thrilled to visit Shaw’s Maple Bush during the Let’s Go Maple event in March. Shaw’s is located in Oro-Medonte, just a short drive from Orillia, Ontario. Shaw’s is a family owned business and has been producing maple syrup since 1904.
Tom Shaw, fifth generation owner, gave us a very informative talk about how maple syrup is produced. In February, workers start to prepare 75 acres with tubing that will collect each drop of sap and deliver it directly to the evaporator house. Shaw’s uses over 6000 taps in their maple bush!
Interesting facts:
- Only 10% of a tree’s sap is used in the production of maple syrup.
- Each tap collects approximately 30 – 40 litres of sap.
- The holes are not drilled deep into a tree since the sap flows into the outer layers of the bark. A tree is not harmed during the process.
- The sap starts to flow when the temperatures rise above freezing. Perfect conditions for sap to flow are freezing nights and warm days.
It was so exciting to see sap drip into a bucket! It is something I’ve always wanted to see in person.
After the sap arrives in the evaporator house, it is filtered and processed through reverse osmosis to remove some of the water, resulting in a concentrated sap. The sap then travels into an evaporator pan and starts the boiling process. Steam escapes and sap turns into syrup. The syrup is then filtered some more and packaged for sale.
Along with producing maple syrup, Shaw’s also has a pancake house on site! I was thrilled to get to sample some of their maple syrup with their delicious pancakes, sausage, and beans. It was the best maple syrup I’ve ever tasted. The pancake house is open 8 am to 4 pm daily in March and April.
There is also a gift shop on site where you can purchase delicious maple products made at Shaw’s Maple Bush. Go visit Shaw’s, enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast, go for a walk on the trails and enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides.
Shaw’s Pure Maple Products
493 Oro Line 14, South
Oro-Medonte, Ontario
L3V 8J3
Ann
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Liz Raymond says
Very interesting process.
A must do with the kids.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
That is so cool! I would love to get a behind the scenes look at maple syrup production. I’ve always been fascinated by it.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle recently posted…Lord & Taylor 2017 Friends and Family Sale #lordandtaylor
Colleen Lanin says
Maple syrup production is an amazing thing. I saw a show on it once, and it’s amazing how much sap it takes to make the syrup.
Colleen Lanin recently posted…Top 10 Disneyland Rides and Attractions for Babies and Toddlers
Robin rue says
I have always wanted to tap a tree and get my own syrup! It’s on my bucket list. I loved the behind the scenes look!
Pam says
This showed me just how little I knew about maple syrup. I always figured the tree was harmed!
Meagan says
This looks like an amazing experience. I know it would be a great homeschool field trip.
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Maureen says
It really is awesome what goes on behind the scenes when making maple syrup. I always have found it interesting!
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travel blogger says
What an awesome trip! I have always been fascinated by the process of making maple syrup. I had no idea that only 10% of the tree’s sap was used. Very interesting!
Veronica Solomon says
Very cool! I have never given any thought to how it is made, but it sure is nice to know
Liz Mays says
Wow, this is really interesting! Now I’m kind of hungry for pancakes with some authentic maple syrup!
Crystal says
Breakfast is served! It’s so neat how they harvest the sap and turn it into maple-y goodness. I love that you can have pancakes on site to sample the syrup.
Rach Ferrucci says
I love the behind the scenes of how things are made and once did this in Vermont. Fresh syrup just can’t be beat!
Melissa says
Great businesses like that one are so rare and what history to be doing it for 5 generations. The product looks so good and wholesome like the owners.
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Toni | Boulder Locavore says
This is awesome and very informative! Thank you for sharing!!
Jeanine says
Where I was born and raised they had a really amazing Sugar Bush where we’d always go to learn about syrup, sap and all that good stuff. It’s so really neat to me!
Rosey says
I have seen it made. It’s very interesting, and of course, a delicious thing to witness. 😉
Louise Bishop says
I love that only 10% of the sap is used. Plus, that the trees are not harmed in a way that they can’t thrive.
Sheena Tatum says
I have always hated when things such as animals and forests were wiped out because we just couldn’t slow down. I never knew that the trees went unharmed during this process. Very neat fact!
Kita Bryant says
I’ve always wanted to visit a larger syrup production plant. I have a friend who does it on a small scale and it’s fascinating!
Kiwi says
I love this. I love the organic process of making this maple syrup yum!
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Lisa Bristol says
The Let’s Go Maple event sounds like it was a great trip. I would love to go to Shaw’s Maple Bush and see the process in person. Maple Syrup is so delicious.
Dogvills says
Wow. That would be an interesting trip. I have always loved maple syrup and it would be so cool to see how it is processed from sap to syrup!
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Annemarie LeBlanc says
Amazing! I can only imagine how labor intensive it is to make maple syrup. 6000 taps! OMG! The work they put in so we can enjoy maple syrup with our pancakes is just awesome.
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Mary Edwards says
Look at that pump in the tree. That is SO COOL! I can’t wait to show my kids!