It’s not just maple syrup

What’s up with all those hanging bags from trees throughout the county? The most common answer is “Maple syrup time!” Did you know you can also tap silver and red maples, hickory, birch, and box elder trees? But have you ever considered it being black walnut syrup time? I did not, but a small processor owned by Jordan Luck in Hancock called The Root Connection changed my thinking.
Timing is everything in this sweet endeavor. If you wait too long, you might miss the prime sap flow, and if you tap too early, the sap may not be ready. It takes a lot of trees, and not everyone has a love for the lowly Black Walnut tree.
Black walnut trees have to be at least 14 inches in diameter. Most homeowners have taken down trees by this time because of the stains black walnuts leave on the pavement and the myriads of walnut seeds making walking on the lawn precarious at times. Thus, finding enough trees in a yard to tap for enough sap.
How many gallons of sap are needed to produce a gallon of black walnut syrup? The ratio is not too different from that of maple syrup (40:1); in other words, approximately 40 gallons of sap are needed to make one gallon of syrup. This is close to 10 quarts of sap, which is boiled down to about 12 ounces of sweet black walnut syrup.
Not knowing what the syrup tasted like, my assessment revealed it is intensely sweet, with a flavor distinctly different from maple syrup, sort of earthy and nutty. I plan on trying it on pancakes and mixing it in my homemade fermented yogurt. I might even get ambitious and find a new dessert recipe.

The cost for this lovely amber-colored Hancock gem is much higher than maple syrup because of the wider search for enough trees and the time it takes to make the perfect water-to-sugar ratio for the best flavor. It is a labor of love, as it takes a longer time to create.
Black walnut syrup is a good source of antioxidants, which can help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals. It is also a good source of minerals, including potassium, magnesium, and calcium. As an old saying goes. “The closer to earth colors your food is, the healthier you will be.”
Thanks to a local maker, I found a gem in the waiting right in Hancock. I am on the lookout for other hidden Waushara County gems. Let me know, and I will start another investigative adventure right in our wonderful area.