Maple Syrup
One of the most beautiful things about the Maple Islands are the huge old growth maple trees that dominate the forests of the island chain for which the island chain is made. It is here that most maple syrup is made and shipped to Saxony and beyond.
Maple syrup is first harvested from mature maple trees. These trees have to be at least 40 years old and a certain size for it to be effective. During the short time in spring when the nights freeze, but the day is warm, the sugar sap of the tree is tapped through a pipe placed in the side of the tree and a bucket is hung from it. The sap is then collected from the orchard to a shack called a sugarhouse where is it immediately boiled to concentrate it and keep the syrup from fermenting. After concentrating (or in some cases turned to sugar) the syrup is then filtered through fine wool to catch any bits, placed in a variety of different sized barrels, depending on the farmer or village. Finally, the barrels are shipped out through the major ports to Saxony and beyond.
The demand for maple syrup is quite high across all of Europa. Maple syrup is a competitor with the sugar made in the south in places like Boriken and the Lucca Cays. However, its flavor makes it unique and highly sought after. Sugar is not its less expensive cousin (as in our world) and since the season for harvesting maple syrup is measured in weeks, its price is high enough that being a maple farmer does not relegate one to the lower classes. In truth, the maple farmers of the Maple Islands hold considerable political clout in Saxony. There are laws limiting and controlling the lumber industry in the Maple Islands in order to preserve the forests and the resource it represents.
There is a lot of cooperation with the nature fey in the Maple Islands, regardless of the decree against certain magics in Saxony. Most farmers guard the fey well, and the fey guard the trees and the forests, alerting the farmers to danger. Few farmers will admit it, except to one another, but they do not fear the fey in the Maple Islands, and anyone suggesting that they should are ignored or shuffled off to where they can't do harm. This close unspoken relationship is tightly protected and too much investigation into the relationship will draw equally unspoken and covert action.
How Its Made
Maple syrup is first harvested from mature maple trees. These trees have to be at least 40 years old and a certain size for it to be effective. During the short time in spring when the nights freeze, but the day is warm, the sugar sap of the tree is tapped through a pipe placed in the side of the tree and a bucket is hung from it. The sap is then collected from the orchard to a shack called a sugarhouse where is it immediately boiled to concentrate it and keep the syrup from fermenting. After concentrating (or in some cases turned to sugar) the syrup is then filtered through fine wool to catch any bits, placed in a variety of different sized barrels, depending on the farmer or village. Finally, the barrels are shipped out through the major ports to Saxony and beyond.
Economics
The demand for maple syrup is quite high across all of Europa. Maple syrup is a competitor with the sugar made in the south in places like Boriken and the Lucca Cays. However, its flavor makes it unique and highly sought after. Sugar is not its less expensive cousin (as in our world) and since the season for harvesting maple syrup is measured in weeks, its price is high enough that being a maple farmer does not relegate one to the lower classes. In truth, the maple farmers of the Maple Islands hold considerable political clout in Saxony. There are laws limiting and controlling the lumber industry in the Maple Islands in order to preserve the forests and the resource it represents.
Nature Fey
There is a lot of cooperation with the nature fey in the Maple Islands, regardless of the decree against certain magics in Saxony. Most farmers guard the fey well, and the fey guard the trees and the forests, alerting the farmers to danger. Few farmers will admit it, except to one another, but they do not fear the fey in the Maple Islands, and anyone suggesting that they should are ignored or shuffled off to where they can't do harm. This close unspoken relationship is tightly protected and too much investigation into the relationship will draw equally unspoken and covert action.Properties
Geology & Geography
While largely from the Maple islands, maple syrup is also made in a very few groves in the Archipel de Charles as well.
Origin & Source
Imported over 3000 years ago to both island chains by the servants of the K'thonim.
"The stuff is expensive but worth the trip out there even if I have to dodge Aquitainian ships to get there. Getting a cargo hold of that back to a port in say Nordentlandt or something is very lucrative!" ~Cpt. Hornwell, Saxon merchant ship Nobility
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