Welcome to the Hilljack Sugar Shack, your source for maple syrup products, honey products, and all the supplies you'll need to make them yourself.
We are located in Litchfield, CT. Coming to the area?
Come visit!
We're open all day, every day.
To Contact Us:
Hilljack Sugar Shack
74 Wilson Rd
Litchfield, CT 06759
or e-mail
The Four Seasons
at the
Hilljack Sugar Shack
Spring – Early springtime is our busiest time, no question. This is when we are collecting sap every day and boiling it every night. This is also a busy time because our sugar house is open to public and to private tours. At the end of the season, all of our equipment is cleaned and stored for the next syrup season.
As the syrup season is ending, our honey season is begining with the bees waking up and preparing for the upcoming season
Summer – This season should be our time off as far as syrup goes, but really we are just as busy bottling syrup, making candy and walnuts, and selling our products at fairs and local farmer’s markets. The trees are still busy as well, chlorophyll, the green pigment in the leaves, absorbs energy from the sun; and the roots absorb water and minerals from the soil. In the process of photosynthesis, a simple sugar is produced, which is converted to starch, and is stored within the tree. This is the maple tree's food and energy reserve, and the sap we will be collecting later on, as you might have guessed.
Late summer is when the honey bees are most active and is also when we begin to harvest honey here at the Hilljack Sugar Shack.
Autumn – This really is our slowest time of the year. New sugar bushes are scouted, supplies are ordered and brought in for upcoming repairs on our old lines and the installation of our new ones, since we are constantly growing. The early Fall is also when we do most of our honey harvesting from our bee hives. After the harvesting time the honey bees prepare for the slow winter months.
Winter - During the winter the trees remain dormant, as do our honey bees. The starch is stored within the tree, waiting to be the sap we will collect and turn into syrup. As the holidays approach we export loads of our products to all over the world. Hilljack Sugar Shack syrup has traveled as far as South Africa, Ireland, Holland, Sweden, and many other destinations.
Maple Recipe
Maple Walnut Fudge
2 cups packed brown sugar (dark or light)
half of a 10 oz can evaporated milk
(not condensed)
1/2 pound of butter
2 cups powdered (confectioners') sugar
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons pure Hilljack Sugar Shack
Maple Syrup
Butter a 9X13 pan ( it is better to line pan with foil or paper and butter makes for easier cutting and removal). In a medium saucepan combine brown sugar, butter and evaporated milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce heat slightly and biol for 10 munutes (no longer) stirring constantly.Remove from heat and add powdered
sugar, vanilla and maple syrup. Mix thoroughly with hand mixer on medium until thick and glossy (just a couple minutes). Fold in walnuts and pour into prepared pan. Refrigerate until set.
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