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Maple taffy (sometimes maple toffee in English-speaking
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
, tire d'érable or tire sur la neige in French-speaking Canada; also sugar on snow or candy on the snow or leather aprons in the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
) is a
sugar candy Sugar candy is any candy whose primary ingredient is sugar. The main types of sugar candies are hard candies, fondants, Caramel, caramels, jellies, and Nougat, nougats. In British English, this broad category of sugar candies is called ''swee ...
made by boiling
maple ''Acer'' is a genus of trees and shrubs commonly known as maples. The genus is placed in the soapberry family Sapindaceae.Stevens, P. F. (2001 onwards). Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 9, June 2008 nd more or less continuously updated si ...
sap past the point where it would form
maple syrup Maple syrup is a sweet syrup made from the sap of maple trees. In cold climates, these trees store starch in their trunks and roots before winter; the starch is then converted to sugar that rises in the sap in late winter and early spring. Ma ...
, but not so long that it becomes maple butter or
maple sugar Maple sugar is a traditional sweetener in Canada and the Northeastern United States, prepared from the sap of the maple tree ("maple syrup, maple sap"). Sources Three species of maple trees in the genus ''Acer (plant), Acer'' are predomina ...
. It is part of traditional culture in
Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
,
Eastern Ontario Eastern Ontario (census population 1,892,332 in 2021) () is a secondary region of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. It occupies a wedge-shaped area bounded by the Ottawa River and Quebec to the northeast and east, the St. Lawr ...
,
New Brunswick New Brunswick is a Provinces and Territories of Canada, province of Canada, bordering Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to ...
and northern
New England New England is a region consisting of six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the ...
. In these regions, it is poured onto the snow, then lifted either with a small wooden stick, such as a popsicle stick, or a metal dinner fork.


Method

Maple taffy, a glassy and sticky delicacy, is made from pouring
maple syrup Maple syrup is a sweet syrup made from the sap of maple trees. In cold climates, these trees store starch in their trunks and roots before winter; the starch is then converted to sugar that rises in the sap in late winter and early spring. Ma ...
over packed snow or cracked ice. The candy is made by boiling maple syrup to about 112 °C (234 °F). It is best to use a candy thermometer. The thick liquid may be kept hot over a very low flame or in a pan of hot water, but should not be stirred as it will form grainy crystals. Once it is ready, the viscosity of the liquid will be more than 4000 times the viscosity of regular maple syrup. This liquid is then poured in a molten state upon clean snow, whereupon the cold causes it to rapidly thicken. If the syrup runs, rather than hardens, and turns glassy and sticky when it is poured on the snow, then it has not yet been boiled long enough to make the soft maple candy. Once sufficiently hardened on the snow or cracked ice, the candy can be picked up and eaten. This is usually done with a wooden popsicle stick. The higher a temperature one boils the initial syrup, the thicker the final result will be. As it is popularly eaten soft, it is usually served fresh. It is most often prepared and eaten alongside the making of maple syrup at a
sugar shack "Sugar Shack" is a song written in 1962 by Keith McCormack. McCormack gave songwriting credit to his aunt, Beulah Faye Voss, after asking what are "those tight pants that girls wear" to which she replied "leotards". The song was recorded in 1963 ...
, or cabane à sucre.


Origins

Conflicting reports exist on the origins of maple taffy and
maple syrup Maple syrup is a sweet syrup made from the sap of maple trees. In cold climates, these trees store starch in their trunks and roots before winter; the starch is then converted to sugar that rises in the sap in late winter and early spring. Ma ...
. Depending on the source, maple syrup production began before or after the arrival of European colonialists. In the northeast of the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, there are tribes. In the Northeast of the United States, tribes developed techniques to concentrate maple sap into sugar and candies, calling it "wax sugar." Lower Nlaka’pamux people also harvested the sap, but "they didn’t boil it in the olden days; they just used it as a tonic." When the European colonists in the Northeast learned of these techniques, they quickly copied the practice of maple sugaring, including making these “wax sugar” treats. In the “Canadian Settlers Guide” it remarks that “the Indian sugar ��is not sold in cakes, but in birch boxes, mowkowks, as they call them.” It is reported that the sap within these boxes would be boiled and stirred constantly to ensure a smooth texture.
New England New England is a region consisting of six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the ...
settlers in the 18th century spent the last weeks of the winter in “sugar camps” to manufacture
maple sugar Maple sugar is a traditional sweetener in Canada and the Northeastern United States, prepared from the sap of the maple tree ("maple syrup, maple sap"). Sources Three species of maple trees in the genus ''Acer (plant), Acer'' are predomina ...
for the year. While making sugar was the main objective of these camps, since it was simpler to store than syrup, it was also drizzled on snow to make immediate maple taffy. According to accounts of early American sugaring, this confection became known locally by a variety of titles, such as "jack wax," "sugar on snow," "leather aprons," and even "leather britches." While the
Iroquois The Iroquois ( ), also known as the Five Nations, and later as the Six Nations from 1722 onwards; alternatively referred to by the Endonym and exonym, endonym Haudenosaunee ( ; ) are an Iroquoian languages, Iroquoian-speaking Confederation#Ind ...
gave the Algonkian tribe the "ratirontaks" or "tree-eaters" designation, this term was likely derived from the "well-known habit of these tribes of eating the inner bark of trees in winter" as the Iroquois also consumed the maple sap. Each tribe has a distinct myth surrounding the maple sap and consequent maple syrup and taffy. The
Mohicans The Mohicans ( or ) are an Eastern Algonquian Native American tribe that historically spoke an Algonquian language. As part of the Eastern Algonquian family of tribes, they are related to the neighboring Lenape, whose indigenous territory was ...
believe that when the snow melts in spring, it furnishes the tree with sap as the snow itself is "the dripping oil" of the celestial bear slain by the hunters in the wintertime.” For the
Menomini The Menominee ( ; meaning ''"Menominee People"'', also spelled Menomini, derived from the Ojibwe language word for "Wild Rice People"; known as ''Mamaceqtaw'', "the people", in the Menominee language) are a federally recognized tribe of Nati ...
, the maple tree was once accidentally cut by Nokomis, who, finding out that the sap tasted sweet, gave some to her grandson Manabush. As he thought that the sap in its original state could cause idleness in women, he told Nokomis to dilute the thick sap, which would then create the syrup. The practice of making maple taffy does not appear in indigenous stories surrounding the creation and discovery of maple sap and syrup.


Regions

The practice in Quebec is conducted in a "cabane à sucre" (literally, "sugar cabin," the rustic, outdoor structure where maple sap is boiled down to syrup and sugar) and the taffy is served with traditional Québécois dishes, including many savory ones that feature maple sugar as a glaze or flavoring element. In New England, the practice is sometimes called a ''sugar on snow party,'' and the soft candy is traditionally served with donuts, sour dill pickles, and coffee. The pickles and coffee serve to counter the intense sweetness of the candy. Maple taffy is also made in the Canadian province of
Manitoba Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...
using syrup from the Manitoba maple tree (also known as a box elder). The syrup and taffy produced from a Manitoba maple are generally darker and have a mustier flavour than that made from sugar maples.


In popular culture

Maple taffy is one of the traditional treats that can be widely found at the Quebec Winter Carnival, among other
French-Canadian French Canadians, referred to as Canadiens mainly before the nineteenth century, are an ethnic group descended from French colonists first arriving in France's colony of Canada in 1608. The vast majority of French Canadians live in the prov ...
delicacies and winter festivities. The Carnival is held annually every February in
Quebec City Quebec City is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the Census Metropolitan Area (including surrounding communities) had a populati ...
and is the largest winter festival in the Northern Hemisphere, with the aim of bringing warmth to the harsh winter season. Visitors can roll their own maple taffy at the festival grounds, and in a 2020 interview, it was estimated that the maple taffy stand at the Carnival sold an average of 2,000 sticks per day. In 2016, then-Canadian Prime Minister,
Justin Trudeau Justin Pierre James Trudeau (born December 25, 1971) is a Canadian politician who served as the 23rd prime minister of Canada from 2015 to 2025. He led the Liberal Party from 2013 until his resignation in 2025 and was the member of Parliament ...
visited the Quebec Winter Carnival with his family, where they were photographed making their own maple taffy. Similar winter festivals celebrating French-Canadian heritage featuring maple taffy take place across
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
, including the
Festival du Voyageur The Festival du Voyageur is an annual 10-day winter festival that takes place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The event is held each February in Winnipeg's French quarter, Saint Boniface, Winnipeg, Saint-Boniface, and is western Canada's largest ...
held in
Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...
. In 2019,
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and
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, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, celebrated Commonwealth Day with a visit to
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in
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. The event was aimed at honoring the diverse community of Canadians living in the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
. During their visit, the Duke and Duchess met with a group of young Canadian expats, who demonstrated how to make maple taffy, with the royals participating in the process.
NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
hockey player Yanni Gourde ate maple taffy on snow out of the bowl of the
Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup () is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, and the International Ic ...
in his hometown of
Saint-Narcisse-de-Beaurivage, Quebec Saint-Narcisse-de-Beaurivage () is a parish municipality (Quebec), parish municipality in the Lotbinière Regional County Municipality in the Chaudière-Appalaches region of Quebec, Canada. Its population is 1,152 as of the Canada 2021 Census. It ...
, following the
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's
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Stanley Cup championship win against the
Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...
, two days after his teammate and fellow Quebecer Mathieu Joseph ate
poutine Poutine () is a dish of french fries and cheese curds topped with a hot brown gravy. It emerged in Quebec in the late 1950s in the Centre-du-Québec region, though its exact origins are uncertain, and there are several competing claims regar ...
out of the Cup in
Chambly, Quebec Chambly () is an Greater Montreal, off-island suburb of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is located in the Montérégie region, inland from the South Shore (Montreal), South Shore of the Saint Lawrence River. It was formed from the m ...
. Maple taffy remains a very important part of their culture in
Vermont Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provinces and territories of Ca ...
. A great example is the non-profit organization Audubon Vermont, which organizes Sugar on Snow parties. During these parties, they invite the community to their
sugar bush Sugar Bush may refer to: * Sugar bush, a forest that is harvested for maple syrup. Plants * Sugar Bush (''Rhus ovata''), an evergreen shrub that grows in the southwest United States * Common Sugarbush Protea (''Protea repens'') * ''Protea'', a g ...
to learn how to make maple taffy and watch sugaring demonstrations. This event typically occurs during maple syrup sugaring season in February, March and April. While learning about the time-honoured tradition of maple sugaring and the creation of maple taffy, these gatherings let community members establish connections with one another and local producers. While sampling various grades of
maple syrup Maple syrup is a sweet syrup made from the sap of maple trees. In cold climates, these trees store starch in their trunks and roots before winter; the starch is then converted to sugar that rises in the sap in late winter and early spring. Ma ...
, visitors learn about seasonal variations in syrup flavour and the specific habitat requirements of various species in the sugarwoods. The maple taffy is served with a
dill pickle A pickled cucumber – commonly known as a pickle in the United States, Canada and Australia and a gherkin ( ) in Britain, Ireland, South Africa, and New Zealand – is a usually small or miniature cucumber that has been Pickling, pickled in ...
, modelling the historic traditions in New England. This event is free; visitors can purchase maple taffy and maple syrup on-site. All of the profits go towards Audubon’s education and conservation programs, allowing Audubon to further give back to the Vermont community.


See also

* List of foods made from maple *
Cuisine of Quebec The cuisine of Québec (also called "French Canadian cuisine" or "cuisine québécoise") is a national cuisine in the Canadian province of Quebec, Québec. It is also cooked by Franco-Ontarians. Québec's cuisine descended from 17th-century Fren ...
*
Canadian cuisine Canadian cuisine consists of the cooking traditions and practices of Canada, with regional variances around the country. First Nations and Inuit have practiced their culinary traditions in what is now Canada for at least 15,000 years. The adve ...
*


References


External links

{{Commons category
Maple candy

Video of how to make maple taffy
Canadian confectionery Cuisine of Quebec Taffy New England cuisine Sugar confectionery Vermont cuisine Vermont culture