How to Enjoy Maple Sugaring Season as a Vermonter

As Vermonters, we’re spoiled by the easy access to maple treats, whether we’re picking up the good local stuff from the side of the road or paying the extra dollar for real syrup at our favorite diners (when did that start, btw?). Maple sugaring season in Vermont is a popular time for tourists and locals alike to have a taste of the freshest (and we know, the best) maple syrup. 

Being a local gives us the advantage during sugaring season—we know all the spots to find the best syrup, sugar on snow, and other treats. Planning to spend the weekend cooped up at home? Instead, enjoy maple sugaring to the fullest. Here are some of our favorite things to do during sugaring season in Vermont:

Tour a Sugarhouse

If you’re not a part of a sugaring family, like many of us are, you may not know all the ins and outs of turning sap into syrup! Luckily, many sugarhouses across the state offer tours throughout the season, especially during Maple Open House Weekend in mid-March. Explore this interactive map to find all the sugarhouses located near you—there are probably more than you think!

There’s no better place to enjoy maple treats than at your local sugarhouse. Enjoy the classics, like maple creemees and fresh maple donuts, and the Vermont-specific treats, like sugar on snow with a dill pickle and maple hot dogs.

Taste the Different Grades of Maple Syrup

There are four different distinct types of maple syrup: Golden (also known as Fancy), Amber, Dark, and Very Dark. In Vermont, the most popular is Amber, but you’re missing out if you don’t try all the varieties sugarers have to offer. 

Golden syrup has the most subtle maple flavor, best for people who don’t have the strongest sweet tooth. Amber is just one step richer, full of maple flavor, and the most flexible for use in different recipes. Later in the season, sugarers produce Dark syrup, which has a more intense maple flavor than Amber and is recommended to match with smoky and spicy flavors. Finally, we have Very Dark syrup—the strongest-flavored syrup you can make—which is ideal for cooking and baking because the maple flavor comes through. 

Fun fact: The grades of syrup most commonly reflect the time of the season the sap was harvested. When the sap first starts flowing, you’re more likely to create Golden syrup. Toward the end of the season, also known as “The Frog Run,” maple trees produce Dark and Very Dark syrup. This is because the microbes in the sap turn into simpler sugars; as temperatures heat up, the sugars caramelize and create a richer syrup taste.

Taste all the flavors of maple to discover which one you like best! 

Incorporate Maple Syrup into Your Recipes

Maple syrup is a great substitute for sugar, honey, and other sweeteners. Channel your inner Vermonter and elevate your typical recipes by adding maple syrup:

• Coffee: Adding maple syrup to your coffee will make you never want to go back to using regular sugar.
• Chili: Maple syrup is the perfect match to the spicy flavor profile of chili.
• Salmon or Pork: Combine maple syrup, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper for the perfect glaze for your salmon, pork, or other meats.
• Vegetables: Two tablespoons of soy sauce, two tablespoons of sesame oil, one tablespoon of rice vinegar, two teaspoons of maple syrup, garlic, and a dash of red pepper flakes will make the perfect sauce for green beans, asparagus, brussel sprouts, tofu, and more.
• Ice Cream: A drizzle of maple syrup and some chopped walnuts will take your regular vanilla ice cream to the next level.

Attend a Maple Festival

There’s so much to enjoy at your local maple festivals! The largest and longest-running one is the Vermont Maple Festival in St. Albans, taking place during the last weekend of April each year. For many in- and out-of-staters, the Vermont Maple Festival becomes a yearly tradition to visit with friends and family. Taste all the maple treats you could ever imagine (and there are definitely some you can’t imagine), dance to live music, browse the craft fair, and more, all on Main Street in downtown St. Albans. 

In mid-April The Kingdom Maple Festival takes place in St. Johnsbury, the self-proclaimed “Maple Center of the World.” Learn more about the storied history of maple in Vermont, taste delicious maple treats, and participate in fun activities that all ages can enjoy. 

The Middletown Springs Maple Festival, held in mid-March in Middletown, Vermont, features a maple sugaring demonstration, maple vendors, exhibits, and talks on the history of maple sugaring. Beyond that, you’ll hear live music, taste a plethora of maple desserts, and have the opportunity to participate in a maple raffle!

Support the Vermont Maple Industry

During the sugaring season and beyond, Vermont’s maple producers need your support. We’re proud to be the top producer of maple in the country, and shopping locally helps farmers continue doing the great work they’re doing. Maple products make great gifts for Vermonters and out-of-staters. 

There’s more than just one way to support the industry. If you’re a business owner, host maple-themed events to drive tourism and excitement around the sugaring season. Create opportunities for local producers to sell their products at your business. Educate yourself on the maple industry and commit to teaching the younger generation about its influence and history in Vermont.

Whether you’re a lifelong Vermonter or a recent transplant, sugaring season offers a unique window into one of our state’s most cherished traditions. From the steam rising off sugarhouses to the first taste of this year's syrup, these sweet spring moments remind us why Vermont's maple culture runs far deeper than a seasonal tourist attraction—it's woven into the fabric of our communities. So bundle up, head out to your nearest sugarhouse, and become part of this delicious tradition that connects us to both our land and to each other.

Ready to learn more about life in Vermont? Explore our blog.