# Strategic Reserve critically low. No, not oil. Maple syrup **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 21, 2026, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027 "2026-10-21T04:12:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2026, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027/41 "2026-10-24T19:11:40Z")
Yes, that’s true. The red “fuzz” on the outside of the ripe berries is where the flavor is. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2026, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027/42 "2026-10-24T19:17:20Z")
There’s some maple sugaring even in Cleveland itself, and the immediate environs. The Metroparks do maple sugar events every year. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2026, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027/43 "2026-10-24T22:55:25Z")
When I was a kid we always used Log Cabin syrup which was 15% maple syrup. My father always claimed that we would not enjoy 100% maple syrup because it was too strong. He was wrong. Nobody has mentioned price. I just checked that in my local supermarket, it is around CAD30/litre. There were several brands so it doesn’t appear to be in seriously short supply. Incidentally, it is actually illegal in Quebec to sell maple syrup diluted with any other kind of syrup. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2026, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027/44 "2026-10-24T23:50:39Z")
A couple guys in my county here in Ohio make it. The each have a “sugar shack” where they sell it. Not cheap, but oh so good. (Apparently a big part of the cost is energy… you need a lot of heat to drive off the water.) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027/45 "2026-10-25T00:01:59Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > When I was a kid we always used Log Cabin syrup which was 15% maple syrup. My father always claimed that we would not enjoy 100% maple syrup because it was too strong. He was wrong. We had log cabin syrup when i was little. Then we somehow acquired some real maple syrup. We never went back. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027/46 "2026-10-25T05:00:19Z")
I was thinking about this thread today and a question I’d never thought of occurred to me. Europeans have pancakes and French toast (_pain perdue_) very similar if not identical to what’s on this side of the pond. Do they use maple syrup on it? ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027/47 "2026-10-25T05:29:24Z")
When I was in my early-mid twenties, I used to volunteer at a maple sugaring operation in Ontario. We’d show the tourists how the sap was collected, boiled, and so on. Later, they could enjoy pancakes with fresh maple syrup. I didn’t get paid, but I could have all the pancakes I could eat with homegrown syrup, plenty of coffee, and usually a beer or two at the end of the day. Best of all, I was always given a liter of our syrup as a “thank-you.” ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027/48 "2026-10-25T07:04:34Z")
Looking at the map posted by @mixdenny , I have to wonder at the huge difference in output between VT and NH, considering that they’re similar in size and climate. VT produces over 3.1 million gallons, while NH’s output is around 160,000 gallons. Roughly, VT produces 20 times as much as NH does. I wonder why NH doesn’t produce more? And @DesertDog, re pain perdu, the French recipe in the link for an “old-fashioned” version (a l’Ancienne) says that it’s served with powdered sugar, “sucre glace”. I have to say that I find that a bit disappointing. [Pain Perdu à l’Ancienne La Vraie Recette Traditionnelle](https://recettepainperdu.com/pain-perdu-a-lancienne/) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027/49 "2026-10-25T13:26:04Z")
I think VT produces a lot because it’s a VT thing. And any farmer in Vermont has to consider, “do i want to sell some maple syrup?” Whereas i didn’t think it’s as much of a thing in NH. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027/50 "2026-10-25T13:52:17Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Do they use maple syrup on it? Friends of mine from Ukraine who are in the US seeking asylum are horrified when I put syrup on pancakes. They prefer fruit jam or jelly on their pancakes. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027/51 "2026-10-25T14:04:18Z")
Did you give them a sample? Like I said above, I carry a small bottle with me and when I used it on a waffle in front of the waitress she asked, “Is that real maple?” “Sure is.” “Fetch a spoon.” I put about half teaspoon into it and cautioned her, “It’s thinner and more astringent than you’re used to.” She liked it so I told her, “Yes, a quart jug is expensive but when you portion it out an ounce or so at a time it’s not much, especially when what you’re putting it on something that was twelve bucks in the first place.” ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027/52 "2026-10-25T14:07:55Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Did you give them a sample? I tried, no sale. When we eat pancakes together three toppings come out: pancake syrup, jelly and Hershey’s chocolate syrup (I have to not think about the last one). ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027/53 "2026-10-25T20:22:06Z")
Most of my grandkids go with Nutella on waffles and pancakes. Of course, they’d put it on their toothbrushes if I let them. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027/54 "2026-10-25T21:29:30Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > I was thinking about this thread today and a question I’d never thought of occurred to me. Europeans have pancakes and French toast (_pain perdue_) very similar if not identical to what’s on this side of the pond. Do they use maple syrup on it? In grad school, I mostly hung out with the international students. I was once actually invited to a pancake party, hosted by a Russian, who asked everyone to bring something from their culture to put on pancakes. I brought maple syrup. It was exotic to everyone else there. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027/55 "2026-10-25T21:48:50Z")
My wife wants choco chips in her pancakes with peanut butter slathered on top. Sometimes, banana slices instead of choc chips. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027/56 "2026-10-25T22:22:08Z")
My husband made blueberry pancakes today. He used a variety of jams (and apple butter) on his. I slathered mine in maple syrup. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027/57 "2026-10-25T22:33:23Z")
If there are a _veritable crapload_ of blueberries in mine, several per bite, my ideal topping is a lot of real butter and that’s it. At that point the maple syrup would interfere with the fruitiness and umami. If there were fewer blueberries I probably would put maple syrup on, but a dusting of powdered sugar might go well with it as well, perhaps the only time it would improve pancakes for me. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027/58 "2026-10-25T22:38:10Z")
Yeah, blueberry pancakes are a different dish than just plain pancakes, and chocolate chip pancakes are different from either. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2026, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027/59 "2026-10-25T23:40:54Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Most of my grandkids go with Nutella on waffles and pancakes. Of course, they’d put it on their toothbrushes if I let them {needscoffee gets out pen and paper…} [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strategic-reserve-critically-low-no-not-oil-maple-syrup/1034027.md?page=2)