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Where To Find Shagbark Hickory Syrup Used by Chefs and Gourmets

by on Nov 12, 2010

Shagbark Hickory Syrup is made only in one place in the entire world; Nashville, Indiana. The extract is distilled from the bark of the hickory tree and dates back to the Native Americans from this region.  It’s all the rage among chefs and home gourmets. “Its smoky, nutty flavor is less sweet than maple, more complex, and hauntingly unique.”  Doubting Gourmet magazine even went on a fact checking adventure back in 2001 and found out that Hickory Works is in fact the only producer of Shagbark syrup in the entire world.

Last Friday evening we had a sushi-liciouis dinner at a local, hip sushi establishment, H2O Sushi. We had been advised to get  the shagbark oatmeal cookies, or better known as  “crack cookies”,  for dessert. They arrived warm on a nice little square plate with a side of chilled espresso infused whipped cream. Words cannot express how divine they were. After pumping the waitress for some ingredient information, I began researching this “shagbark” thing. It turns out that shagbark hickory syrup is only made here in Indiana, about an hour from our house.

created at: 11/12/2010

You’ll find that the shagbark syrup flavor is addicting due to its unique flavor, but also because of its rarity.

Read more about the 200 year old  mysterious syrup, HickoryWorks, bottling the syrup and how the couple who makes it found the recipe and where you can buy those rare, pricey shagbark oatmeal cookies to serve at Thanksgiving or any other gathering. You’ll be the hit of the party if you serve up those “crack” cookies made with shagbark syrup.