Hickory syrup a big draw for retired couple

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Travis along with Joyce Miller began producing hickory syrup as an experiment

Hickory syrup will be similar to maple syrup, however it is smokier and less sweet in taste

In three years, Falling Bark Farm went through promoting 48 bottles regarding syrup a year inorder to 30,000

Berryville, Virginia (CNN) -- Travis and Joyce Miller might possess the many fragrant garage insidethe Shenandoah Valley.

The heady scent associated with hickory wood wafts coming from their particular rural home aboutVirginia's busy Route 7, catching the attention of hungry commuters whom might anticipate findinga new grandma tending your hearth or, even better, the pitmaster roasting a hog on the aspect inthe road.

What's cooking, though, is a thing a bit bit sweeter (sorry, grandma): It's Falling Bark Farm hickorysyrup.

Never been aware of hickory syrup? Neither had the actual Millers until a few years back eachoccasion a opportunity Web research turned up mentions regarding it.

In 2011, these people showed up towards the farmers market throughout close by Purcellville,Virginia, using 48 bottles involving their own new science project -- "which we felt was obviously atiny bit risky," Travis says.

The danger compensated off. the couple aim to sell30,000 units this year.

The Millers credit rating tapping to the marketplaceat the best time with all the best buzzwords:foraged, in your neighborhood sourced and, nearlyall of all, unique.

They're the first to always be able to admit thesepeople didn't possess a divine syrup destiny; they'rejust retirees seeking to obtain through throughlearning through mistakes -- a challenge in whichAmericans of all ages face regularly.

"Everybody out there is trying in order to find onething new," Travis says. "The trouble just isn't

always producing the actual product, it's regarding advertising the actual product."

The Millers are usually among a new dozen as well as thus hickory syrup producers nationwide;throughout comparison, the actual maple syrup industry produced 3.17 million gallons in 2014,according for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Millers possess built their own business by intriguing the typical consumer, that frequentlyassociates the flavour involving syrup strictly with maple or perhaps "pancake syrup" poured fromthe character-shaped bottle.

"We say, 'You understand what, in the event you just taste it. Only taste the actual hickory, we justwant you to have the hickory experience. you don't have to buy it,' " Joyce says. These Peoplediscover that the taste will be almost all it will take to earn over new customers -- to not mention theparticular loyal next involving Washington-area chefs who appreciate your syrup's smoky, earthyundertones.

"We don't say it's much better as well as worse when compared with maple; it's just a differentculinary experience," she says. the sugar content is similar to that relating to maple syrup, howeverthe intensity of the sweetness is not there, Travis adds, which could be why they will suggest usewithin meat glazes or perhaps cocktails.

As your title suggests, hickory syrup is made from the bark involving hickory trees -- shagbarkhickory, to become exact.

Instead involving boiling down tapped tree sap just like maple or birch syrup makers would, yourMillers craft their own item simply by extracting flavors in the real bark that's been foraged fromyour forest floor. That They scrub your bark clean, roast it more than an open flame then boil it withturbinado sugar in order to form the syrup.

Throughout the Millers' 33-year marriage, the couple have often looked for their hands -- as well asthe land about these people -- as a way of creating a living. They Will grow along with eat their veryown produce, hunt and cook their own game, and possess even built nearly almost all of their ownhouses from the ground up.

Joyce says the first plan had been which if they might work a weekend producing syrup and alsoresult in the exact same sum involving money Travis had been earning at his odd retirement jobs,they'd take which thought towards the next degree and also pursue it total time.

Three years later, your notion seems to get stuck.

"I feel your family that works together, stays together," Travis says.

At first, they experimented with compound butters as well as smoked salts. Your smoking led theseto seeking in to distinct woods in order to smoke -- following that that they branched directly intohickory.

"And then syrup just began happening," Joyce says. "And it's continued to be able to happen. We'regoing to adhere to it wherever it takes us."

They individually bottle every unit inside their residence employing a Hamilton Beach coffee urn,and also drive orders towards the post office inside their truck having a license plate which reads,

"SRP HPNS" (syrup happens).

People within their little rural community know all of them since the hickory syrup folks, and havebegun to chip in by simply enabling the happy couple stop by and pick up any by natural meansshedding bark off his or her property. Oftentimes, they tend to be available home to locate bundlesassociated with hickory bark about his or her front porch just such as a basket associated withrefreshing baked goods via a new neighbor.

"We just try to complete the proper thing," Joyce says. "I guess maybe just about all that's karma. It'sreturn about as well as starting to spend off."

An 8-ounce bottle retails with regard to around $9.99, and furthermore the syrup can becomeacquired nationwide in retailers for example Whole-foods too as with Falling Bark Farm's on theinternet store.

"We wouldn't like to obtain also big, as well fast, type of just like the cupcake industry," Joyce jokes."We're just getting it a stride at a time."

Besides, it is actually simply the 2 of these producing all involving the sticky stuff.

"We're just a couple of straightforward senior citizens creating syrup," Joyce says.

For the particular Millers, in the moment, cash really does grow in trees.