Maple syrup in West Virginia is made from the sap of sugar maples, primarily in the cooler northern regions. The sap is collected during late winter on warm days following freezing nights, usually in February and March. The process occurs in sugar camps or houses, with some farmers selling sap to larger producers.

Sap is gathered through spiles (spouts) connected to tanks via plastic tubes. Commercial producers use reverse osmosis to remove water before boiling the sap to make syrup. It takes 40-50 gallons of sap to produce one gallon of syrup. While the process has remained largely the same for centuries, modern methods are more advanced than those used by Indians, who used reeds and fire.