Cabane à Sucre
Cabane à Sucre = Sugar Shack
Below is an excerpt from Wikipedia on the definition of a “sugar shack”
A sugar house (also known as a sap house, sugar shack, sugar shanty, or “cabane à sucre”) is a small cabin or shack where sap collected from sugar maple trees is boiled into maple syrup.
In Quebec, most sugar houses are family-owned.[citation needed] During the spring when the maple syrup is flowing or running, and Easter, the families and guests gather in these sugar houses to celebrate, often delighting in foods cooked with maple syrup, some of the rarer ones being sausages cooked in maple syrup, or eggs poached in maple syrup. Most sugar houses located near urban centers also offer reception halls and outdoor activities open to the general public during certain months. Many of these activities include sleigh-riding, tours of the grounds, and eating maple toffee made in the house often in front of the clientele.
The reception halls cater to large groups offering many varied dishes complimented by maple syrup. These dishes range from ham, bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, pork rinds, and pancakes to many other breakfast type dishes. There are also specialties like homemade pickles, homemade breads, followed by desserts like sugar pie and maple taffy on the snow.[1]
Another interesting fact is that in most of these buildings the great room is furnished with long tables, so everyone just sits and enjoys the food in a buffet style or the servers bring food until you tell them to stop. It is a tradition from Québec.
On Sunday we went out to Etienne’s brother-in-law’s parents cabin. On their land they have maple trees. They have started using them to make their own maple syrup. We had an opportunity to go to their property and see how maple syrup is made. We also went to Etienne’s brother-in-laws uncles place where he makes a significant amount more. After wards we were able to have a traditional meal. It was a really good day overall.
Here are a few pictures from our day.
Their property is in southern Quebec and it actually touches the US Border. Below is a picture of a marker that is just off their property.
US/Canada border
As you can see from the picture, the dog decided to venture into US territory without a passport!!
One of the spouts
The building where they boil the water from the maple trees
The boiler
Sweet water - somewhere in between water and maple syrup
Finished product
The Uncle's boiler
This was the really authentic experience.