It’s a sweet time of year in Muskoka! With the arrival of warmer days but still cold nights, Muskoka’s maple trees have awoken from their long winter slumber to share with us that most wonderful of spring treats: sap.

On its own it’s a bit underwhelming – slightly sticky and subtlely sweet – but when boiled down into syrup it makes a delightful topping or sweetener for just about anything. (Who says maple syrup is just for pancakes?) If you want some culinary inspiration, you’ll find some maple-themed recipes courtesy of the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association here.

Did you know that Ontario produces four million litres of maple syrup every year? Or that Canada produces 90 per cent of the world’s maple syrup? Or that it takes 40 litres of sap to make just one litre of maple syrup? That means our province’s maple trees give up 160 million litres of sap each year for us to enjoy!

A great way to learn more about how maple syrup is made – right from knowing when and how to tap the trees right through to bottling – is to take a sugar bush tour. Most maple farms offer them at this time of year, or you can check out the annual Muskoka Maple Trail which runs from March 9 until April 20.

In addition to six different sugar bush tours, the Muskoka Maple Trail also offers a variety of maple-inspired cuisine and activities to try. Like a maple bacon butter tart (just when you thought a butter tart couldn’t get any better!) or maple gelato. Or take a sleigh or wagon ride through a Muskoka maple bush.

If you’re a craft beer fan, you won’t want to miss the maple-licious result of a collaboration between Muskoka’s three craft breweries, Lake of Bays Brewing Company in Baysville, Muskoka Brewery in Bracebridge and Sawdust City Brewing Company in Gravenhurst. Together they’ve created the Pancake Breakfast Specialty Maple Ale – a toasted golden brown ale with a doughy malt centre, aromas of cinnamon and vanilla, and a lingering sweet maple syrup finish. But it’s only available in complimentary sample sizes at the breweries – watch for it on tap after March 17 while supplies last.

Finally, you can wrap up the spring celebration of all things maple at the culmination of the Muskoka Maple Trail – the Muskoka Maple Festival in downtown Huntsville on April 21. This free, family-friendly event features an all-day pancake breakfast, maple syrup producers, live music, arts and crafts vendors, unique maple items and gifts, street performers, interactive events, a beer garden and more!

You’ll find a map of the Muskoka Maple Trail and details on the Muskoka Maple Festival at muskokamaple.ca.