Eat & Drink
A 100% Natural (and Legal) High
Sugar high, that is. Unlike other banned artificial sweets currently under review, maple syrup is still a gooily (it so is a word) tasty treat that Canadians will likely be enjoying for many a lunar cycle.
But prime time this year is running out. The Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival is only going to be running until April 9th, after which you'll have to, shudddddder, buy your syrup from an aisle lit by fluorescent lighting that hurts not only the eyes, but your soul as well.
Not sure about that last fluorescent lighting bit. A demon from the 13th century told me about it. Eh, that's probably not important. What is important, though, is that you know exactly what's going on at the Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival, as well as where the goin's on be goin' on. Hit the jump!
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The festival is happening across two locations; Bruce's Mill, and the Kortright Centre for Conservation. Maps to both of which are neatly linked in their names. Wonders of the internet, no, you will never cease to amaze.
"But what's going on at the festival?" you ask. I heard you ask, that's why I quoted you. Well, you could check out this exhaustive listing of events, or you could read this executive summary, now available with bullets!
- Arts and crafts for kids and grown-up kids
- Horse drawn wagon rides
- Pony Rides
- Animal farms
- Sugar-rush inspiring syrup tastings
- Easter egg hunts
- A great reason to get out of house and down extreme amounts of sugar all in the name of being Canadian
The cost of setting your taste buds on fire (or melting them, I can't decide which description is better suited) is next to nothing at all but the gas to get there. Even then, parking is either cheap or free depending on the location. Go ahead, dip your stick in the syrup, it's all a part of growing up.
Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival
Adults pay $7, Kids pay $3. Group Rates available.
Parking is $3 at Kortright Centre, and free at Bruce's Mill
Bruce's Mill is located at 3291 Stouffville Rd, 3 km east of Hwy 404, and the phone number is 416-667-6295
The Kortright Centre is located at 9550 Pine Valley Drive, Woodbridge, and the phone number is also 416-667-6295, somehow...
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Loved that you did this post, reminding people of a natural amazing sweetener, which is a Canadian tradition, and good for you too (in limited amounts!) Pure maple syrup is high in minerals which help your body fight free radicals. Also I like the fact that you pointed out the soul - to be able to experience hands on the connection between our food and nature is so important - it really grounds you and lifts your spirit.
Looking forward to more of your posts (love your writing).
Cordelia Coyle
Registered Nutritionist
Loved that you did this post, reminding people of a natural amazing sweetener, which is a Canadian tradition, and good for you too (in limited amounts!) Pure maple syrup is high in minerals which help your body fight free radicals. Also I like the fact that you pointed out the soul - to be able to experience hands on the connection between our food and nature is so important - it really grounds you and lifts your spirit.
Looking forward to more of your posts (love your writing).
Cordelia Coyle
Registered Nutritionist
That is a good point. I usually buy organic maple syrup, just for that extra "guarantee" of chemical/toxin free processing, but I did google the topic and found that the lead can be in the trees from the roots as well. It just so happens there was an article Monday about the topic of organic maple syrup <a href="http://www.macleans.ca/homepage/magazine/article.jsp?content=20070326_103293_103293";> here</a>. I guess as with everything in life, nothing is perfect or guaranteed, but I still would prefer to use a good quality maple syrup I trust over refined white sugar.
-Cordelia