Frequently Asked Questions
OUR MAPLE SYRUP
DOES THE MAPLE TREE NEED TO BE RE-TAPPED EVERY YEAR?
Yes. At the end of our maple syrup or "sugaring" season, all of the taps are removed from the maple trees. The tap holes will seal up within about four weeks and the tree will repair the hole. The following year, we will choose a different area of the tree to place a new tap.
WHEN DO YOU MAKE MAPLE SYRUP?
We make pure maple syrup in Connecticut in late winter. Typically, we tap our maple trees in mid February and make maple syrup through March. This is all weather dependent and Mother Nature has the final say!
WHERE IS MAPLE SYRUP MADE?
Maple syrup is made only in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada.
HOW MUCH MAPLE SYRUP DO YOU MAKE FROM ONE TAP?
Normally, one quart of maple syrup is produced per tap.
DOES TAPPING THE MAPLE TREE "HARM" THE TREE?
No. We are only collecting a small amount of sap, approximately 10 gallons, throughout the season. Researchers estimate that this might be perhaps about four percent of the total reserves.
CAN YOU USE MAPLE SYRUP INSTEAD OF SUGAR IN RECIPES?
Yes! Maple syrup can be substituted for white sugar. Use 3/4 cup of our delicious River's Edge maple syrup for 1 cup of white sugar. Reduce the dominant liquid in the recipe by 3 tablespoons for each cup of maple syrup used.
DO YOU HAVE TO REFRIGERATE MAPLE SYRUP?
Yes, please refrigerate after you have opened the container. If you leave your opened container on a shelf, it may develop mold. If this occurs, not to worry! This is harmless. Just skim the top and discard, reheat the syrup to a boil and refrigerate.
HOW MANY GALLONS OF SAP DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE ONE GALLON OF MAPLE SYRUP?
It takes anywhere from 40 to 60 gallons of maple sap to make one gallon of River's Edge maple syrup. This ratio can change from year to year and even from tree to tree.
WHY ARE THERE DIFFERENT COLORS OF MAPLE SYRUP?
The reason there is color in maple syrup is due to the amount of boiling. The lower the sugar content, the more the sap has to be boiled and thus a darker syrup is produced. All grades of maple syrup are equal in density and sugar content (66.9%).
OUR HONEY
HOW MUCH HONEY DOES A BEE MAKE?
A worker honey bee will make about 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime.
HOW LONG DO BEES LIVE?
The queen bee can live for 3 to 4 years. The worker bee usually lives for 6 to 7 weeks in the spring and summer months.
HOW MANY POUNDS OF HONEY DO YOU GET FROM A COLONY OF BEES?
A colony of bees can produce as little as no honey to as much as 200 pounds or more. This all depends on the strength of the hive and the forage available.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COLONY AND A HIVE?
Colony refers to a group of bees that consists of a single queen, hundreds of male drone bees, and thousands of female worker bees. Hive or beehive refers to the wooden box structure that the honey bees live in.