The White House is serving maple syrup to Canada's prime minister. But the maple syrup is from New England.


Send in the Mounties! The White House is about to commit a culinary crime of international proportions. During Thursday's state dinner with the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, the White House will serve its guests maple syrup... from New England.
Responding to what we can only presume was a menu oversight, White House executive pastry chef Susie Morrison said the New England product was just what the kitchen had on hand.
It's like a hockey stick to my Canadian heart. The natural sweetener is so woven into the fabric of Canadian culture that the maple leaf is emblazoned on the national flag and one of its hockey teams takes its not-so-intimidating name. Just mention the words maple butter tart to a Canadian and her heart will swell with national pride.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
After all, Canadians have been tapping their nation's majestic forest of maple trees since the pioneer days. The country's northern locale actually makes it ideal for the production of sap that requires freezing nights and warmer days to flow productively from the tree's wood to the tap.
While New England states do boast a small maple syrup industry, Canada is the powerhouse. In 2012, Canada produced 7.9 million gallons of maple syrup to New England's 1.2 million gallons. Canada has more than 8,000 maple syrup businesses and the country's sugarhouses provide 85 percent of the world's maple syrup to something like 45 countries. In fact, the U.S. is the world's primary importer of Canadian maple syrup. Canadian maple syrup is so widespread that you'd really have to work at choosing a non-Canadian brand.
Look, I'll be the first to admit my home country is easy to mock for lagging behind the super power to its south, but in maple syrup, at least, Canada reigns supreme. So, next time, don't slum the syrup, eh?
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.
-
July 5 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include an extrajudicial detainment camp, 'alligator Alcatraz', and tax cuts for billionaires.
-
5 explosively funny cartoons about the 4th of July
Cartoons Artists take on liberty and justice for all, a terrifying firework, and more
-
Jeff in Venice: a "triumph of tackiness"?
In the Spotlight Locals protest as Bezos uses the city as a 'private amusement park' for his wedding celebrations
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Senate advances GOP bill that costs more, cuts more
Speed Read The bill would make giant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, leaving 11.8 million fewer people with health coverage
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami