From the Fields to Your TableFrom the Fields to Your Table

When you sit at your table to eat pancakes, do you ever reach for When you sit at your table to eat pancakes, do you ever reach for delicious sweet syrup to pour over them? Many people do!delicious sweet syrup to pour over them? Many people do!

Have you ever thought about how syrup makes it’s way to your table? In Have you ever thought about how syrup makes it’s way to your table? In this story, you will learn about the journey of one Louisiana this story, you will learn about the journey of one Louisiana productproduct called “Steen’s Syrup.” This called “Steen’s Syrup.” This product product is is producedproduced in Abbeville, Louisiana in Abbeville, Louisiana is almost 100 years old.is almost 100 years old.

Each batch starts with one popular Louisiana Each batch starts with one popular Louisiana agriculture cropagriculture crop called called sugar canesugar cane..

Children and adults in south Louisiana know that when the sides of a Children and adults in south Louisiana know that when the sides of a sugar canesugar cane are peeled, the sweet juicy pulp is a treat to chew on. One are peeled, the sweet juicy pulp is a treat to chew on. One Louisiana couple took that taste a step further by creating a pure cane Louisiana couple took that taste a step further by creating a pure cane syrup syrup productproduct..

In 1910, Charley Sidney Steen, Sr. and Elizabeth Bernard Steen In 1910, Charley Sidney Steen, Sr. and Elizabeth Bernard Steen founded the C. S. Steen Syrup Mill.founded the C. S. Steen Syrup Mill.

The The purchasepurchase of a small mill was made through a local hardware of a small mill was made through a local hardware store. At that time, this mule drawn mill could store. At that time, this mule drawn mill could produceproduce a couple barrels a couple barrels of syrup a day. of syrup a day.

Although some things have changed, one thing hasn’t. Since the Although some things have changed, one thing hasn’t. Since the plantation days, plantation days, sugar cane cropssugar cane crops are still planted the same way. It are still planted the same way. It is hand laid into the soil. The seed cane is covered and allowed to is hand laid into the soil. The seed cane is covered and allowed to grow. Fifteen months later. the grow. Fifteen months later. the cropcrop will be will be harvestedharvested..

Now mechanical cutters are Now mechanical cutters are used. Once the used. Once the cropcrop is is harvested,harvested, it is taken to the it is taken to the millmill. The average "Syrup . The average "Syrup Making Season" runs from Making Season" runs from middle of October through middle of October through Christmas.Christmas.

In earlier years, In earlier years, farmers farmers search for people to hand cut and search for people to hand cut and strip the sugarcane for strip the sugarcane for deliverydelivery to the C. S. Steen Syrup Mill. to the C. S. Steen Syrup Mill.

As the first of its kind in the world, this cane cleaning As the first of its kind in the world, this cane cleaning plantplant took took sugar canesugar cane and removed the leaves and dirt. The leaves and and removed the leaves and dirt. The leaves and dirt are burned and the ashes are returned to the fields, while the dirt are burned and the ashes are returned to the fields, while the sugar canesugar cane would go to the would go to the millmill to be to be processedprocessed. .

Today, Today, mechanized equipmentmechanized equipment cut sugar cane, strips it of its cut sugar cane, strips it of its leaves and loads it on to leaves and loads it on to hydraulic dump cartshydraulic dump carts which which tractors tractors or trucksor trucks tow to the tow to the mill.mill.

While being While being processedprocessed at the C. S. Steen Syrup Mill, kettles of at the C. S. Steen Syrup Mill, kettles of pure pure sugar canesugar cane juice are evaporated into cane syrup and it is juice are evaporated into cane syrup and it is cooked until it looks and tastes just right.cooked until it looks and tastes just right.

Five generations later, the mill still uses the original Five generations later, the mill still uses the original reciperecipe and steam and steam equipment equipment continues to make “100% pure cane syrup” over an open continues to make “100% pure cane syrup” over an open kettlekettle..

Once the syrup is Once the syrup is packagedpackaged, the , the producers producers of this of this product product thenthen ship ship it to it to storesstores to be to be soldsold..

It is then It is then boughtbought or or purchasedpurchased by by consumersconsumers and brought home.and brought home.

Next time you reach for syrup, share the story of this Next time you reach for syrup, share the story of this Louisiana productLouisiana product with your family! with your family!

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Created by Stacy Bodin with the permission of

Steen’s Syrup Company. (February 13, 2008)

A special thank you goes out to the Steen Family for permission to share this information with Louisiana students learning about Louisiana economics and agriculture. Pictures used are from the Steen’s Syrup website, Microsoft PowerPoint Images and Annette Oliva.