In the maple-lined countryside just outside the small community of Palmerston, Yungblut Maples is thriving as a small-scale, family-driven syrup operation. Nestled on a 14-acre sugar bush, the farm – run by Dak, Liz, Don, and Nancy Yungblut – has, since 2021, built a strong reputation for careful, quality-first production.
‘Yungblut Maples is either a very labour-intensive hobby or an extremely artisanal business,’ Dak remarks with a laugh on a bone-chilling (but sunny) Sunday morning in early February. He elaborates: ‘Each year, we tap between 1,300 and 1,400 maples that feed sap to the farm’s wood-fired sugar shack where it’s then boiled down.’ The result: pure maple syrup alongside traditional staples such as maple butter, maple sugar, and hand-crafted maple candies – all produced from 100% maple, additive-free.
Production at the farm unfolds within a narrow, weather-driven window – typically beginning around Family Day weekend when daytime temperatures hover near +4°C and nights drop to roughly -2°C, creating the freeze-thaw cycle that moves sap through the trees. The season ends naturally once the maples begin to bud. And the labour behind each bottle is considerable: roughly 40 litres of sap are required to produce a single litre of syrup, with peak runs at Yungblut reaching as much as 3,700 gallons of sap in a day. As the harvest progresses, the syrup deepens in colour and flavour with darker, more robust batches the last to emerge.
Yungblut Maples maintains a relaxed, open-door approach. While boiling hours are posted on social media and syrup and other maple products are available daily, visitors are encouraged to call or text ahead to confirm someone’s home. ‘My number – 519-353-8020 – is on each bottle of our syrup,’ Don affirms, ‘so I’ll definitely be able to let anyone who calls know when we’re around.’ The operation also specializes in custom gift basket and corporate orders – especially around the holiday season.
Like many remarkable farmers and food producers across Guelph and Wellington County, Yungblut Maples partners with Taste Real, a Wellington County program promoting local food and strengthening connections between producers, businesses, and consumers. Learn more about Yungblut Maples on Facebook and about Taste Real at tastereal.ca
FEATURED RECIPE: MAPLE BBQ SAUCE by Yungblut Maples
A simple, sweet-and-savoury BBQ sauce made with pure maple sugar – perfect for the fast-approaching grilling season and easy enough to whip up anytime.
Ingredients: 1 cup Yungblut Maples maple sugar 1 cup ketchup 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Method:
- In a saucepan, combine the maple sugar, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Whisk until smooth.
- Warm gently over low heat, stirring often, until the sugar is dissolved and sauce is glossy.
- Remove from heat and let cool slightly before using.
To use: Brush onto grilled meats during the last few minutes of cooking or serve warm as a dipping sauce.
TOP TEN EARLY SPRING ADVENTURES
Enjoy the fresh start of spring with these unique experiences in Wellington County. To note: pre-booking is required for some experiences listed below.
- Get up close and personal with alpacas at Harmony Meadows Alpaca, Belwood.
- Sip cider or wine around a roaring wood fire at Cox Creek Cellars, Guelph/Eramosa.
- Book a maple syrup experience at Elliott Tree Farm or Heartwood Farm and Cidery, Hillsburgh/Erin.
- Enjoy a country drive to The Barrel House, Clifford for infamous baked goods, and more.
- Pick up a Craft Gin Trail passport and visit up to seven craft distilleries across the region.
- Go on a biking adventure through budding trails before refueling at Flow State Bike Co, Puslinch.
- Take a riverside cooking class at Woolen Mill Kitchen, Erin.
- Try your hand at gin making at Silver Fox Distillery, Arthur.
- Go on a horseback trail ride at JohnMel Stables, Puslinch.
- Explore the Wellington County Thrift Store Trail where cozy charm meets one-of-a-kind finds.
For the best food, farm, and seasonal experiences in Wellington County, visit tastereal.ca
SPRING RURAL ROMP May 30, 2026 — Northern Wellington County
Take a self-guided adventure through farms, markets, nurseries, and food destinations across Mapleton, Minto, and Wellington North. Discover how your food is grown, meet local farmers, visit farm animals, taste delicious samples, pick up fresh plants and seedlings, and enjoy the beauty of the rural surroundings. Visit wellington.ca/springromp for details.
