Tag Archives: maple sugar

Maple Weekend 2020 happens here March 21 & 22

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mapleweekendtourWhen you see steam rising from the sugarhouse, you know it’s the sweetest time of year: maple season!

Just Maple will hold its annual Open House during New Hampshire Maple Weekend, March 21 & 22. You’re invited to visit for tours, demonstrations and sampling.  You can also enjoy live music!

Tours are FREE and will run about every 30 minutes throughout the weekend, starting and ending at the Just Maple Store. Learn about the different types of maple trees you can tap, how to tap trees, and see antique sugaring equipment demos, as well as a look inside the sugarhouse while maple sap is boiled!

If it’s maple, or made with maple, you can sample it: different grades of maple, maple candy, maple syrup, maple cream, cotton candy, maple apple butter, maple nuts, kettle corn and more.
If you have room, there’s lunch too:  hot dogs steamed in maple sap, baked beans, maple milk as well as coffee and tea….

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  • What: Maple Weekend Open House
  • Where: Just Maple, 475 School Street, Tilton NH – 2.2 miles north of the Tilton School.
  • When: Saturday March 21 & 22, 2020
  • Hours: Saturday 9am-4pm; Sunday 9am-3pm
  • Tour Admission: Free!
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We are grateful for the ongoing support of community partner, Franklin Savings Bank  standing by New Hampshire small businesses and farms.

Making Pure Maple Candy

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"NH" candies, shaped like the Granite State, dry on racks in the commercial kitchen.

“NH” candies, shaped like the Granite State, dry on racks in the commercial kitchen.

The maple bubbles as Just Maple owner Barbara Proulx keeps a watchful eye on the latest batch. The kitchen is filled with a delicious smell. It’s a process that is part science, part alchemy and a little magic: making pure maple candy. Every piece of Just Maple maple candy is made right here in our commercial kitchen. The work requires a lot of focused attention and is painstaking – making creamy, high quality, maple candy is a three day process. 

 
On the first day, maple is carefully boiled down to the proper consistency and poured into molds, where it cools for a bit. Then the candy is removed and carefully inspected for quality as it is placed on drying racks where it must dry for 24 hours. 
 
Maple candy in "dipping sauce" (maple syrup).

Maple candy in “dipping sauce” (maple syrup).

 

Freshly dipped candy ready for drying.

Freshly dipped candy ready for drying.

On day two, the maple candy is placed in stainless steel baskets and dipped into pure maple syrup. Nicknamed “dipping sauce”, this maple syrup has to be prepared carefully so it is right at the proper density before candy is dipped. This part of the process creates a nice creamy texture that holds up well. The candy will have a little firmness on the outside to contrast the smooth texture on the inside; a real “melt in your mouth” experience! After dipping, the maple candy is drained and hand-dried piece by piece. Then it goes back on the racks for final drying for another 24 hours.

 
By day three we get to the fun part! Now the maple candy has to be packaged and shipped. Boxes are built, labels are applied and packages are boxed for distribution around the state and beyond.
 
Roger Proulx boxes large maple leaf candies. Practiced hands get the job done swiftly.

Roger Proulx boxes large maple leaf candies. Practiced hands get the job done swiftly.

Maple candy from Just Maple stores extremely well – just keep it a room temperature. It should be noted that if it is in a warm, humid environment too long, its consistency can change – it may become harder. If that happens, it can still be eaten, used as sweetener or in cooking. Most likely, you won’t encounter this… Maple candy has a way of getting eaten up!

 
Maple candy is a nice treat to serve alongside after-dinner coffee – and it fabulous IN coffee. You just may want to carry a small box with you when you travel to make that AM joe extra special. Maple candy can also be used in cooking: try tossing a couple candies with butter and blanched carrots or green beans for a lovely glazed side-dish.
 
Maple candy is made with pure New Hampshire maple syrup; it’s only ingredient. For those who do not tolerate processed cane sugar or corn syrup sweetener, Just Maple maple candy is the natural choice!
How do you enjoy maple candy? Feel free to share on our Facebook page.