AK: From tree to cream; how birch syrup makes its way to dessert bowls

An option for Wild Scoops ice cream is to have birch syrup glazed over it (Photo by Daysha Eaton)The chartreuse leaves of the birch tree are one of the first signs of spring in Southcentral Alaska. But for a few weeks before the leaves unfurl the trees offer a sweet treat –a watery liquid that when tapped and boiled down turns into a rich, nutty syrup. Birch syrup is becoming a favorite flavor in the state’s budding local food scene.
At Wild Scoops test kitchen, near downtown Anchora