About the syrup
What grade is your maple syrup?
Grade A Amber Rich. It is the classic maple flavor: full, clean and not heavy. Our bourbon barrel aged syrup is Grade A Dark Robust, the stronger late-season syrup, which stands up to eight months in oak.
Is anything added?
No. The only ingredient is the sap of our own maple trees, boiled down. Maple sugar and maple crumble are made from that same syrup with nothing else.
How much sap does it take?
About 40 gallons of sap for one gallon of syrup. Sap is about 2.5 percent sugar; finished syrup is at least 66 percent.
Does tapping hurt the trees?
No. A tap takes about 10 percent of a tree's sap for the season and heals over by summer. Many maples have been tapped for 150 years and are still going.
When is maple season?
Late February into early April, depending on the year. Sap runs when days are above freezing and nights are below. The season may last 8 to 10 weeks but the heavy runs are 10 to 20 days.
What do the maple syrup grades mean?
All retail maple syrup is Grade A. The class after it describes color and flavor, which follow the season: Golden Delicate (earliest, lightest), Amber Rich (the classic maple taste, what we bottle), Dark Robust (later season, stronger), and Very Dark Strong (end of season, mostly for cooking). None is better than another; they are different points in the same spring.
Is maple syrup healthier than sugar?
It is a natural sweetener with minerals like manganese and zinc and a lower glycemic index than cane sugar, and it is one ingredient with nothing added. It is still sugar, so enjoy it as one.
I want to make my own. Where do I start?
With the beginner's guide from the Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association, which we are members of. It covers taps, collecting, boiling and finishing for a backyard setup. Then come see the shack during the season.
Storing and using it
How should I store maple syrup?
Unopened, in the pantry. Once opened, in the refrigerator, where it keeps for a year or more. If you ever see mold on the surface, skim it, bring the syrup to a boil, and refrigerate again; it is fine.
How do I use maple sugar in a recipe?
When a recipe calls for 1 cup of cane sugar, use 2/3 cup of maple sugar. It works in coffee, on oatmeal, in cookies and breads, and in dry rubs.
Does the bourbon barrel aged syrup contain alcohol?
No. The syrup rests in charred oak barrels that once held bourbon. It picks up vanilla, caramel and oak from the wood, but there is no alcohol in the bottle.
Ordering
Do you ship?
Yes, anywhere in the United States. Choose UPS or USPS at checkout; the rate is calculated by weight and destination, and orders of $100 or more ship free.
Can I pick up locally?
Yes, at the farm in Denmark, in Menasha, or in Edgerton near Janesville. Choose Pickup at checkout, pick the location, and pay online or when you pick up. See Local Pickup.
Do you sell wholesale?
Yes, to stores and restaurants across northeast and south central Wisconsin. See Wholesale.
Are you a licensed food producer?
Yes. Skarda Land LLC is inspected and licensed annually by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture as a food processing plant for maple syrup production, and we carry product liability insurance.