Where did maple syrup start?

The earliest evidence of maple syrup production dates back to the indigenous peoples of North America, who tapped maple trees and boiled the sap to make a sweet syrup. The history of maple syrup production in North America can be traced back to the Iroquois, Huron, and Algonquin peoples, who used the sap of sugar maple trees to create a sweetener. The indigenous peoples used the syrup for both culinary and medicinal purposes.

The practice of tapping maple trees and boiling the sap to create maple syrup was passed down through the generations and eventually adopted by European settlers. The first commercial production of maple syrup began in the 17th century in Canada, and in the 18th and 19th centuries, it became a more widespread practice in the Northeastern United States as well.

Today, Canada remains the largest producer of maple syrup in the world, responsible for approximately 75% of global production. The province of Quebec is the largest maple syrup producing region in the world, followed by Ontario and New Brunswick. Maple syrup production is also found in the United States, primarily in the Northeastern states such as Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maine.