In The Judges Eye

by George Cook
Regional Extension Maple Specialist
University of Vermont

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO HAVE A MAPLE PRODUCT THAT BRINGS HOME THE BLUE RIBBON AT CONTESTS? IS THERE SPECIAL INSIDE KNOWLEDGE THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE THAT HELPS THEM TO BE CONSISTENT WINNERS?
IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO ENTER ANY OF THE MAPLE SYRUP COMPETITIONS, HERE ARE SOME HELPFUL TIPS TO FOLLOW: FIRST, KEEP IN MIND THAT THE JUDGES DON'T KNOW WHOSE PRODUCT THEY ARE JUDGING. THEY TRY TO DO AS FAIR A JOB AS POSSIBLE. WHEN SOME PEOPLE WIN CONSISTENTLY, IT IS PROBABLY BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW TO CARE FOR AND PREPARE THEIR ENTRIES TO RETAIN THE TOP QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS.
TO DETERMINE THE WINNERS IN THE SYRUP CATEGORY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE JUDGES USUALLY CHECK THE DENSITY AND COLOR, THEN TASTE THE ENTRY, SETTING ASIDE ANY THAT HAVE EXCEPTIONAL FLAVOR. THEY WILL TASTE THESE AGAIN TO DETERMINE THE WINNER.
SYRUP--MANY PEOPLE SET ASIDE PINTS OF SYRUP DURING SUGARING SEASON THAT "STAND OUT." IF YOU DO THIS, KEEP YOUR ENTRY IN GLASS AND IN THE FREEZER. REMOVE THE SYRUP FROM THE FREEZER TWO DAYS BEFORE THE CONTEST. REMEMBER, FOR THE BEST RESULTS; USE ONLY NEW, UNUSED CONTAINERS. CANNING JARS ARE OKAY, BUT DO NOT USE MAYONNAISE JARS, PEANUT BUTTER JARS, OR PICKLE JARS. THESE ARE VERY HARD TO CLEAN PROPERLY AND MAY RETAIN ENOUGH ODOR IN THE JAR OR CAP TO AFFECT YOUR SYRUP. CANNING JARS WASHED WITH DETERGENT, EITHER IN A DISHWASHER OR BY HAND, MUST BE WELL RINSED WITH HOT WATER.
WHEN GETTING YOUR ENTRY READY FOR THE CONTEST, OPEN THE CONTAINER AND CHECK THE FOUR BASICS: COLOR, CLARITY, DENSITY, AND MOST IMPORTANT, TASTE. HAVE MORE THAN ONE PERSON TEST THE FLAVOR OF THE SYRUP. ALSO, IF YOU ARE HEATING THE SYRUP, IT SHOULD BE FILTERED AFTER HEATING. ALWAYS USE A SYRUP FILTER, NOT ANYTHING YOU FIND IN THE KITCHEN, ESPECIALLY NOT A COFFEE FILTER.
TWO OTHER POINTS TO REMEMBER: (1) SUBMIT THE REQUIRED
AMOUNT OF THE PRODUCT FOR THE ENTRY AND (2) REMOVE YOUR NAME LABELS; THE ENTRY TAG WILL IDENTIFY YOUR PRODUCT.

Reprinted with permission from George Cook. George was one of the judges at the contest we held in Lansing at the International Meeting in 1996.

Submitted by Terry DeLoughary