Maple syrup is a sweet syrup made from the sap of sugar maple trees. The sap is collected in early spring when temperatures rise above freezing during the day and drop below freezing at night. It takes about 40 gallons of sap to produce just one gallon of syrup, making it a labor-intensive process. Once collected, the sap is boiled to evaporate the water content, concentrating the sugars and creating the syrup. Maple syrup is commonly used as a topping for pancakes and waffles, and it can also be used in cooking and baking for added flavor.