Maple syrup bottles with the tiny little handles have been around for well over 100 years. So what’s with the handle? Was it designed for elves? We have to rewind to the 1920s, when everything from moonshine to molasses was stored in clay or ceramic crocks with big, chunky handles — ones you could actually use. Naturally, people used them for syrup because they were durable, reusable and designed for pouring syrup by the gallon. By the mid-1800s, maple syrup had grown from a seasonal, small-scale farm staple into a full-blown regional industry in the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada. As production scaled and packaging modernized in the early 20th century, glass bottles took over, improving shelf life and letting consumers admire the rich amber color. Producers didn’t want to give up the warm, homespun charm of the old crocks, so they kept the jug shape … and somewhere along the line, the handle shrank. So why do maple syrup bottles have tiny handles today? That dainty little handle isn’t there to help you pour syrup on your pancakes — unless you have toddler-sized hands and superhuman wrist strength. Basically…… it’s there because it’s cute. Marketers didn’t want to lose the nostalgia of the old crock, so they kept the handle.
