174: The History and Symbolism of Canada's Maple Syrup Production with Peter Kuitenbrouwer

My guest this week, Peter Kuitenbrouwer, is here to share some of the ways that our relationship with maple syrup is linked to culture, religion, and land in Canada. Peter is the author of the recent book, Maple Syrup: A Short History of Canada's Sweetest Obsession. Peter grew up on a farm in Quebec, with his career as a journalist taking him to jobs in Montreal, Ottawa, Mexico City, New York, and Toronto. Among other adventures, he covered the Oka Crisis in Quebec, crossed the Atlantic on a container ship, sailed the Great Lakes on a bulk grain carrier, and was detained by guerillas in the forests of Chiapas, Mexico. In 2021, he became a Registered Professional Forester. He presently works as a journalist, teacher, and forester. His family makes maple syrup in their sugar bush in Madoc, Ontario.  Today, Peter speaks to some of the important foundations in appreciating the history of maple syrup, including historical and contemporary Indigenous maple-syrup making practices, the specific cultural and religious elements that made Quebec the largest producer of maple syrup in the world, what the "maple syrup mafia" really is, the impacts of technology and climate change on flavour, and more. Resources:  Maple Syrup: A Short History of Canada's Sweetest Obsession Peter's Website