(This colorful flag welcomes people to the Calf-A restaurant at the
Ioka Valley Farm in Hancock, Massachusetts.)
Have you ever noticed the difference in taste between real maple syrup and the kind sold in supermarkets? It's like night and day.
Ioka Valley Farm in Hancock, Massachusetts, is a year-round farm that has all kinds of offerings for visitors.
At this time of year, scores of visitors go to the Calf-A restaurant to eat pancakes, waffles, French toast and other yummy dishes with maple syrup made right at the farm.
Here are huge vats where sap is stored.
At Ioka Valley Farm, a huge oil-generated evaporator is used to boil sap into syrup, as well as a small, wood-burning one.
It's a really beautiful place and an extremely hard-working family runs it.
You can read all about them and more about the farm here: http://www.iokavalleyfarm.com/
There are all kinds of maple products available for sale at the farm including yummy granola and, of course, all different grades of maple syrup.
It's a great place to visit so if you are ever in Western Massachusetts, be sure to stop by Ioka Valley Farm!
DO YOU LIKE THE TASTE OF REAL MAPLE SYRUP?
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10 comments:
Haven't had read maple syrup in a very long time...but I love it. I do have pancakes each Saturday morning ..unfortunately it's with Aunt Jemima low fat maple syrup..send some from this farm to me will you? HA!
I have never seen it made - but I have read about it - gosh those vats were huge. So they have to boil it for hours - reduce it - no wonder the real stuff is so expensive! sandie
I've never seen it made but love the real stuff. I bought some when I was in Montreal and now I'm hooked!
I have seen maple syrup made...amazing the work involved. I have used only Vermont products since we visited VErmont years ago. Used to get it at Walmart and they still have it but have dropped the one with added sugar. Will have to find a new market!
Lovely post! I enjoyed your pictures. Especially the one with all the different grades of maple syrup. Yes, I love real maple syrup! It has been the preferred form of "sugar" for our entire family for the past many years. My husband's grandparents owned a "sugar bush" and Grandma and Great-Aunt M would go to a "shack" in the sugar bush each year where they would "camp" and make maple syrup in huge vats over an open fire. I'm sure those were the days (I wasn't in the family back then). Thanks for sharing!
Oh yes! I visited Polly's Pancakes in Franconia Notch, NH, very similar. Grains grown ont he farm, syrup made there too. I love New England.
I have never seen it made, it was very interesting to see those pictures. those pancakes looks very tasty :)
Have a lovely weekend! Big hugs,
Eva
Oh, that pancake breakfast is making me hungry! I love the name of the restaurant as well.
Blessings,
Susan :)
I have seen how they get the sap for making maple syrup. And I have some syrup from Canada that a friend brought back in the glass leaf jar like in your photo. I haven't opened it yet. don't know what I am saving it for. I really should use it. :) Best wishes, Tammy
I would love to see the trees being tapped, as well as the making of the maple syrup - alas I live in Virginia so I can only enjoy it through people like you who share. I would love to visit the Calf-A :) Hugs ~ Mary
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