Maple Country: Sugarhouses and Farm Stores of New Hampshire

By mid-April, most New Hampshire sugarmakers have pulled their taps for the year. The sap runs when nights freeze and days thaw, and once the trees bud, the season is over. That makes this a good moment to talk about where the syrup goes next: into the farm stores, gift shops and kitchens of the producers who made it. A New Hampshire maple sugar house is worth a visit any time of year, even when the evaporator is cold.

This guide covers what maple sugaring is, how to buy well, and six producers and maple stops from our directory, spread across the state.

How maple syrup is made

Maple syrup starts as sap, mostly from sugar maples and other maples whose sap is relatively sweet, though it is still mostly water. Maples are usually not tapped until they are 30 to 40 years old, and an average tree produces about 35 to 50 liters (roughly 9 to 13 gallons) of sap in a season. Sugarmakers collect it, either with buckets or through networks of tubing, and boil it down in an evaporator until it thickens into syrup.

The ratio is the number that surprises most visitors. Making one volume of syrup takes between 20 and 50 volumes of sap, depending on how sweet the sap is. Sap at 1.5 percent sugar needs about 57 units to make one unit of syrup, while sap at 3.5 percent needs only about 25. Many larger producers now use reverse osmosis to remove some water before boiling, which saves fuel. The equipment has changed over time too. Around the time of the Civil War, syrup makers began switching from heavy, rounded iron kettles to large, flat sheet-metal pans, which boiled more efficiently, and the first evaporator for heating and concentrating sap was patented in 1858. When a sugarhouse shows you its evaporator, you are looking at the descendant of that design. All of that is why a sugarhouse in season is full of steam, and why real maple syrup costs what it does.

The season depends on the weather. Sap flows best when nights fall below freezing and days climb above it. That usually means late winter into early spring. As the weather keeps warming, the trees' spring growth changes the taste of the sap, and the season ends.

Understanding grades

Since 2015, the United States and Canada have used matching standards. Retail syrup is Grade A, labeled by color class: golden, amber, dark and very dark. Syrup harvested earlier in the season tends to be lighter in color, so a farm's shelf can change as the season goes on. Asking which batch a bottle came from is a good way to learn what you like.

There is no best grade. Lighter syrup is good on its own or over ice cream. Darker syrup holds up in baking and cooking. Many farm stores will let you compare, and the people behind the counter are usually happy to explain their own batches.

Where to buy and visit

Ben's Pure Maple Products, Temple

Ben's Pure Maple Products in Temple is one of the best-known maple names in the Monadnock Region. Beyond syrup, the business sells maple candy, maple cream and maple sugar, and it supplies equipment to other sugarmakers. Its Maple Station Market in Temple adds a deli and store, which makes it a practical lunch stop on a drive through the hills.

Parker's Maple Barn, Mason

Parker's Maple Barn in Mason has been a family establishment since the late 1960s. It began with a small sugar house and grew into a country restaurant serving breakfast and lunch. The Corn Crib gift shop on site sells the farm's maple products, and the sugar house still produces syrup in season. If you want to taste maple the way most people first fall for it, on a plate of pancakes, this is the place to start.

Presby's Maple Farm, Bethlehem

In the North Country, Presby's Maple Farm on Hazen Road in Bethlehem sells syrup and maple products and offers sugarhouse tours at set times of year. It is a good stop to pair with a drive through Bethlehem and Littleton or a day in the White Mountains. Call ahead or check the farm's website, since tours and store days are seasonal.

Turkey Street Maples, Chocorua

Turkey Street Maples is a family sugaring operation in Chocorua, a village in the town of Tamworth at the southern edge of the White Mountains. It sells syrup directly and through local outlets, with contact ahead for pickup. Chocorua sits just off Route 16, so it is an easy detour on the way to or from North Conway.

Mac's Maple, Plainfield

On the western side of the state, Mac's Maple is part of Mac's Happy Acres in Plainfield, a family farm that also runs McNamara Dairy. The farm store sells maple products alongside milk, ice cream, meat and baked goods, which makes it more of a full farm visit than a single-product stop. It is a short drive from Lebanon and Hanover.

Fuller's Sugarhouse, Lancaster

Fuller's Sugarhouse is on Main Street in Lancaster, the county seat of Coos County and a gateway to the northern part of the state. It is a natural stop if you are heading toward the Great North Woods or coming back down from Jefferson and Whitefield.

Planning a maple drive

New Hampshire maple country is not one place, but you can build a trip around it.

1. Monadnock loop: Temple and Mason are close together in the southern hills. Combine Ben's and Parker's in a single morning, then continue toward Peterborough.

2. North Country loop: Bethlehem and Lancaster are both in the North Country. Pair Presby's and Fuller's with a drive through the northern White Mountains.

3. Upper Valley stop: Plainfield works as part of a day in the Hanover and Lebanon area.

Maple by season

In late winter and early spring, many sugarhouses are boiling and some open their doors to visitors. Each spring the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association organizes a statewide open-house weekend; check its website for the current year's details. In summer and fall, farm stores are stocked with the season's syrup, and fall foliage drives pass many of them. In winter, maple makes a good gift, and many producers ship.

Tips for buying

• Look for "pure maple syrup." Pancake syrup is a different product.
• Buy a few grades. Small containers let you taste the difference.
• Ask about the season. Producers can tell you when a batch was made.
• Check hours before you go. Small farm stores keep their own schedules.

FAQ

When is maple season in New Hampshire?

Sugaring usually runs from late winter into early spring, when nights freeze and days thaw. The exact timing changes every year with the weather.

How much sap makes a gallon of syrup?

Between 20 and 50 gallons, depending on the sugar content of the sap.

Can I visit a New Hampshire sugar house outside sugaring season?

Yes. Many farm stores sell syrup year-round, and some offer tours at other times of year. Check with each farm first.

What is the difference between maple syrup grades?

All are Grade A. The classes describe color and flavor, from golden and delicate to very dark and strong.

Sources

• Maple syrup, Wikipedia (production, sap ratio, grading): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple_syrup
• New Hampshire Maple Producers Association: https://www.nhmapleproducers.com
• Ben's Maple Syrup: https://www.bensmaplesyrup.com
• Parker's Maple Barn (family establishment since the late 1960s): https://www.parkersmaplebarn.com
• Presby's Maple Farm: https://www.presbysmaplefarm.com
• Turkey Street Maples: https://www.turkeystreetmaples.com
• Mac's Maple and Mac's Happy Acres: https://macsmaple.com/pages/visit