How Loch’s Pure Maple Syrup is Made

In the Early Spring of Each Year

Loch's skilled "sugarmakers" head to the woods for the start of the maple syrup season. The Sugarmakers drill a small hole into the trunk of each tree, insert a small spout into the hole and collect the sap that begins to flow. This process is called "tapping the tree."

The sap starts to "run" or flow out of the holes when the weather is just right. Sugarmakers like cold nights (with temperatures below freezing) and warm days (with temperatures above freezing) so the sap will flow properly. Once the sap starts collecting it's processed right away.

The Sap Collected

From the sugar maple tree is about 98 percent water and 2 percent sugar, plus other valuable nutrients and minerals. To make Loch's pure maple syrup, the sap is boiled in an evaporator to remove much of the water.

The evaporator consists of large, specially designed pans that are filled with sap. These pans sit over a fire of burning wood, which heats the sap and causes it to boil. As it boils, some of the water in the sap turns into steam, which rises out of the sugarhouse. This makes the sap thicker and sweeter.

Loch's Maple

Loch's Sugarmakers

Very carefully watch the boiling sap. As the sap thickens, it gets hotter. The sugarmakers know that the maple syrup is ready when its temperature reaches 7 degrees Fahrenheit above the boiling point of water. This process requires a lot of time and energy. In fact, it takes about 40 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of Loch's pure maple syrup!

Loch's Maple

The Finished Maple Syrup

Is filtered, then put in containers for sale, or made into one of Loch Maple's other tasty maple treats, such as maple candy, maple cream, and even maple jelly. Loch's pure maple syrup and other Loch maple products have no additives, preservatives, or artificial colors. It's all-natural -- People even call it a "taste of nature."

Loch's pure maple syrup is great on pancakes, waffles, and French toast. You can also enjoy it on vanilla ice cream, on steamed rice and vegetables, or other foods. It is a pure, all-natural product from Pennsylvania's woods.