Maple Syrup

Shhh. I am sleeping. All winter long, I am cozy and quiet inside a tall, tall maple tree. The world outside is cold and white with snow. Then, the sun starts to shine a little warmer. The snow melts, drip, drop, drip. The tree begins to wake up and stretch its branches to the sky. And deep inside, I start to move. I trickle and flow, a sweet water just under the bark. Can you guess my name. I am Maple Syrup.

Long, long ago, the First Peoples of the land found my sweet secret. This was many hundreds of years ago. They were very clever and watched the forest closely. They saw squirrels nibbling on the maple branches and wondered what was so yummy. So, they made a tiny tap in the tree's bark. Drip, drip, drip. Out I came, like clear water. They collected me in buckets made of bark. Then, they warmed me over a gentle fire. Whoosh. The water floated away like a little cloud of steam. And what was left behind. Me. I became thick and sweet and golden brown. It was a wonderful, yummy surprise from the forest.

Today, I am still a happy treat. Do you like me on your pancakes. I love to swim in warm, fluffy circles and make waffles extra yummy. I am a sweet gift from the forest that families still share together at the breakfast table. Every time you taste my sweetness, you are tasting a little bit of sunshine and a tall, strong tree. You are tasting a story from long, long ago. I connect you to the wonderful forest and the clever people who first shared my secret with the world.