Learn how sap becomes maple syrup!

HADLEY, Mass. (Mass Appeal) - No plate of pancakes...or waffles... is complete without a helping of syrup. But how is this sticky goodness made? Well we went to the North Hadley Sugar shack to find out.

After we headed inside we met up with owner Joe. He told us to start the syrup making process you first need, obviously, a tree. Then with an electric drill you make a hole in the tree that is about 2 to 2 1/2 inches deep. After drilling into the tree the next couple steps were simple. Put a spout in and wait for the bucket to be filled with sap.

After the buckets are filled with sap Joe and his Crew gather the pales and put the liquid in huge holding tanks. The tanks are used so they can move the large amount of sap easily.

After the sap is put into the holding tanks, Joe showed us a very complicated looking machine called a Reverse Osmosis machine. He said the machine squeezes out the water in the sap; which makes the final product sweeter.

After the sap goes through the Reverse Osmosis machine during the boiling process Joe keeps the evaporator working by creating a real log fire. The fire heats the sap and boils the water out of it, which creates the syrup. To test if the syrups ready Joe uses, whets called, "an old fashioned scoop." This tool helps to test if the syrup is thick enough. After a couple more density and temperature measurements the sap is officially maple syrup.