There’s a Toronto neighbourhood a little sweeter than most these days. Residents of Regal Heights near Davenport and Oakwood are tapping private maple trees to collect sap.

John Keating chairs the Regal Heights Residents’ Association and has been tapping his solitary 21-year-old maple tree for five years. Word spread within his tight knit community, and now close to 25 residents are involved in this uniquely Canadian hobby. John says perfect conditions are cold nights and warm days and predicts this year will be pretty good, with a total neighbourhood yield of about 10 litres of the sweet liquid gold. It’s a 40:1 ration, of sap to syrup once boiled down. John says it’s a fun and easy hobby but the best part, of course, is eating it. His favourite is on pancakes but says a little drizzle on bacon is delicious.

Christine Ross visited the neighbourhood. Listen to her report here.