Q 01/05

Which US state has long been the country's largest maple syrup producer, making about half the national crop?

A) Maine

B) Vermont

C) New York

D) Wisconsin

Answer · why

B) Vermont

Vermont leads a country that made most of the world's maple syrup until the 1930s; most now comes from Canada, chiefly Quebec.

Q 02/05

A mysterious maple syrup smell over New York City from 2005 was traced to a factory processing which seeds?

A) Coriander

B) Caraway

C) Fenugreek

D) Cardamom

Answer · why

C) Fenugreek

Fenugreek seeds, a common flavouring in imitation maple syrup, were being processed at a factory in neighbouring New Jersey. Some New Yorkers had fear...

Q 03/05

In New England, soft maple taffy is traditionally served with doughnuts, coffee and which sour food?

A) Dill pickles

B) Sauerkraut

C) Lemon wedges

D) Green apples

Answer · why

A) Dill pickles

Dill pickles are served because their sourness counters the intense sweetness of the candy, as does the coffee.

Q 04/05

Thieves in Quebec's great maple syrup heist refilled the drained barrels with what before returning them?

A) Corn syrup

B) Molasses

C) Vegetable oil

D) Water

Answer · why

D) Water

Water went into the barrels after the thieves siphoned off the syrup, and the barrels were then trucked back to the warehouse. Almost 3,000 tonnes wor...

Q 05/05

Quebec's maple syrup reserve, used to support world prices, was likened by The Economist to which organisation?

A) OPEC

B) NATO

C) De Beers

D) The Fed

Answer · why

A) OPEC

OPEC was the comparison because the producers' group stockpiles barrels in rural warehouses to steady supply and prices. In 2021 it released 50 millio...