Maple Syrup: A Michigan Legacy

Have you ever wondered how deep Michigan's role runs in the cultivation of Maple Syrup? Maple syrup is indeed a Michigan Legacy. One that encompasses a local industry, generations of communities and families, and even the compassion we as a state extend to our natural landscape.

A Truly Native Tradition

Believe it or not, there is a Michigan Maple Syrup Association. This group has a strong repour regarding their insight into maple syrup's history and present circumstances in Michigan. The association discusses that the Chippewa and Ottawa tribes share a legend on the sourcing of maple syrup. It was said that the god Nenawbozhoo noticed that the people were becoming lazier and lazier as they drank the maple syrup from trees, doing less foraging and hunting work for their tribes. The god then cast a spell on all of the maple trees that forced the forest people to go through a tedious process to consume the syrup.

As much as this seems too modern to be accurate, there are many cases where historians have been able to find evidence of maple water being processed by Native Americans, transforming it into a syrup or sugar product. In some cases, they would leave syrup out to freeze in bark-based containers, which would cause the water and sugar in the collection to separate. From that point, the frozen piece was hacked apart, and the sugar was left to dethaw and be stored. Another method consisted of boiling the sap with hot stones to remove the water from the sugary consistency. Europeans later adopted this, though it was altered in various ways as they had access to innovative tools. Adopting this processing technique is what has now tumble-weeded into what we do today to obtain maple syrup.

Maple Syrup Today

Today maple syrup is a harvestless practice, thanks to the innovative alterations made over what has now been many decades of maple syrup collection-- tubes channel xylem sap from the tree to a sugar shack. The sugar shack is a structure located nearby that is used for boiling the sap into syrup.

Thanks to Michigan's massive maple tree population, the industry has only grown since the Native Americans first discovered the rich flavor that was hidden away in the tartness of the sap. Much has changed since the beginning years of its production on an industrial scale, but regardless the delicacies robust flavor and public adoration has not shifted. Michigan, in fact, is an excellent state for syrup enthusiasts because of its celebration and fascination with the product. The Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival is a perfect example of this, taking place just outside of the state's capital annually.

Today's maple syrup industry is as robust in variation and size as the flavor of the syrup itself. From local relics, businesses that have been open since before our parents were born to modern maple ventures that have shifted the ethical standards of collection methods, the market is diverse. Some of the more prominent names in the state's Northern region include Britt Family and Currey Farms. There are many state-based farms, though, and some even offer public tours or host local vending events. The need to visit Michigan's most renowned brands is pretty small, as many local producers provide just as thoughtful of experiences, usually child-friendly.

The current culture in the state of Michigan regarding maple syrup is immense. It has only grown since European settlers engaged with the mechanisms of the Native Americans and their "maple water." If this fact has yet to impact your relationship with Michigan, consider letting that change. Investigate the festivals, tour the sugar shacks, and if you have the chance, peek on the back of a Michigan Maple Syrup bottle and see what farm it is from!

The Future of Michigan's Maple Syrup Industry

The industry will remain steady in its demand by the public, but whether we can maintain the resources needed for extraction is another question that has been in a recent debate. As we harvest the sap from maple trees, we need to consider the undeniable value they have in our cultivation of the final product. As deforesting in the state continues to meet the demand for wood products, long-standing maple harvesters' sources have become more and more irreplaceable.

Does this mean maple tree scarcity is a concern on the horizon in Michigan? Far from. Consider, though, that extracting sap from the maple trees takes more than just the tree. Having the accessibility to attach the tubing mechanisms, to install a sugar shack in a relative location, and to export the finished product out of the area is an investment. An investment that depends on the surrounding area to facilitate the access required overall for extraction. Because of this list of procedures in extraction, those engaging in the development of these devices and materials must ensure sufficient respect is provided to the environment in areas where harvesting occurs. This is a responsibility that dates to the origins of maple syrup cultivation.

The future of this industry depends on the woodlands as a whole to be healthy and stable enough to withstand long-term harvesting, specifically when new ones are developed, but even so when prior installations are updated or even torn down. It depends on those who implement the sugar shacks and transportation pipes to be mindful of their impact from point A to point Z. It also rests in the public hands as the forest is a unified responsibility when looking at things in full scope. In Michigan, this is almost a universal consideration by many generations of maple syrup harvesters. From family farms to individuals who manage enough extra from their harvest for a few roadside stands, the consensus is to show appreciation through respect.

We can play our part through involvement with maple vendors at public events, by absorbing the resources and education provided by the industry and inquiring where direct local impact can be possible.

Sweet but Sappy

Syrup = sugar, right? It sure feels like it when staring down a glazed maple donut or enjoying a house-made maple latte from The Brew. Maple syrup is indeed a favorite flavor for sweet tooths of all kinds. If you haven't had the chance to indulge in fresh maple syrup or even find that self-care can't taste that way, consider there are plenty of other ways to experience the sweetness and sappiness of the Michigan-favored delicacy.

While, of course, putting your boots on and taking that grand ol' tour of the maple farm is always a great way to love maple syrup from a distance, so is painting your nails with Michigan made and inspired nail polishes. Why not do it while also soaking up the robust maple or cedar smells of a Michigan-made candle burning on the sink next to you? If there is one thing that everyone could benefit from doing more of, it is caring for themselves.

Northern Self Care & Gifts specializes in helping you achieve the most out of self-care. From non-toxic, cruelty-free, handmade, professional nail polish to women-owned, Michigan-made cosmetics and self-care items, their self care shop is a one-stop shop for safe and thoughtful personal products. The storefront has gift selections of novelty Midwest themes. Within these, there is a never-ending selection of personal mementos to carry into our self-care routines. This includes those in and around the sweet, robust flavors of maple syrup. Check out Northern Nail Polishes online store or the brick-and-mortar storefront, Northern Self Care & Gifts, located in beautiful Traverse City, for a first-hand view of their selections.

Northern Self Care & Gifts
428 W Commerce Dr, Ste B
Traverse City, MI 49685

Maybe it takes us back to pancakes at grandma's house the morning after Christmas, or to the everyday moments of connection spent at the table with our littles before the day kickstarts— or maybe it's nothing but the idea itself. The sentiment of mornings, of Michigan woodlands, of a place that saves space for all the little things, like maple saplings and thoughtful crafters; this is the legacy of maple syrup, one that is easily integrated into the ideas and routines of self-care.