A GIFT GUIDE FOR THE HOLIDAYS Daniels Maple Syrup
He started out in the backyard with 10 taps as a teenager . Now , Brandon Daniels has 2,600 taps on 10 different properties .
Brandon Daniels , owner of Daniels Maple Syrup in Dawson , has been making maple syrup for 35 years ..
When Brandon Daniels was a kid his parents took him to a big maple syrup festival every year in Highland County Virginia . In his early teens he decided to have a go at it himself .
“ So I started out with about 10 taps and a 2x3 pan in the back yard about 36 years ago .”
Now he has about 2,600 taps on 10 different properties and his syrup sells throughout the state and beyond .
Story and photos by Jenny Harnish
Making maple syrup is hard work . He has about 20-30 miles of tubing coming into five different locations in big stainless steel tanks . Nothing is added to the sap , and after going through the boiling process he gets about one gallon of maple syrup for every 75 gallons of sap .
Daniels describes his syrup as richer in flavor and nutrients than other syrups and as natural as it gets .
“ Trees do pull a lot of minerals and vitamins out of the ground that they absorb up in the sap so it has a lot of natural vitamins and minerals . It ’ s 100 percent all natural and it ’ s a lot better for you than corn syrup or sugar .”
Maple syrup , he says , is 99 % natural sucrose and has a low glycemic index which allows it to be enjoyed by diabetics in smaller quantities . ❖
CONTACT Buy Daniels Maple Syrup products at :
• Edith ’ s Health & Specialty Store , Lewisburg
• Grandview Country Store
& Market , Grandview
• Amy ’ s Market , Lewisburg
• Tri-County produce , Ronceverte
• Bob ’ s American Store & Cafe , Shady Spring
• Tamarack , Beckley
• State Parks Gift Shops
• Buy directly at danielsmaple . com / Next day shipping or contact and buy it directly from them at the taphouse in Dawson . Price $ 6- $ 52 based on size .
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