Making Maple Syrup

[simple life]

hmm, I wonder if my neighbor would notice if I tap his trees
Thank you Rosalind for the information.
Its amazing where some of our food comes from isn't it? How did someone discover that you could tap a tree and boil it to make syrup, who woulda thunk it?
I just bought a bottle of maple syrup the other day and it cost me $20.00, its worth it to me though because I absolutely cannot stand that fake "pancake syrup" (aka as flavored corn syrup) at the store and I use maple syrup alot.
Does maple syrup have a shelf life? I wonder if it gets granulated like honey does.

 

[2ndtimearound]

Thanks so much for the instruction - I've been meaning to attend a workshop to learn how to tap for syrup, but every year, it's too cold to go! So do you know if any other trees have useful sap? I think I have a couple of big maples around here, but I have a couple other unidentified trees that leak sap in fall, so I'm wondering.

Thanks again for the great instruction!!

 

[Bettacreek]

Personally, I've scoped out several birch trees. I'm hoping to get out there and get some birch sap tapped this year. I'm debating on making my own or rigging my own.

 

[journey11]

I read a newspaper article awhile back on making hickory syrup. It's a little different though--you boil down the bark of a shagbark hickory. They say it doesn't hurt the tree at all since the bark is shedding anyway. I would like to give that a try someday too. Shagbark hickories are very common here where I live.

 

[damummis]

We tapped 50 trees three weeks ago. The sap is already "bud" colored. It is over. We only got 2 quarts as opposed to last years 6 gals. We are on the coast in Maine. Weird spring.

 

[seedcorn]

where to you buy the tap, bags for collecting at?

 

[damummis]

where to you buy the tap, bags for collecting at?

We personally use Pex tubing for taps and water jugs for collecting.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=295956
I did a how to on BYC. I guess great mind think alike.

 

[LVVCHAP]

I used a 1/4" adapter to tap the tree and a hose from the adapter to the bucket. Anyone who has access to some maple trees should try it just for the fun of it. Also, if you do not have a hygrometer you also boil the water until it is 6 degrees above boling temp. Water boils at 208 at my elevation. I put a thermometer in when it begins to turn brown. When it rises to 214 it is done. I boil it outside until it is almost done and them take inside to finish.

 

[ducks4you]

OH, MAN, LVVCHAP -- look how your lawn is greening up!!
BTW, did I say to you yet, ?

 

[journey11]

I used a 1/4" adapter to tap the tree and a hose from the adapter to the bucket. Anyone who has access to some maple trees should try it just for the fun of it. Also, if you do not have a hygrometer you also boil the water until it is 6 degrees above boling temp. Water boils at 208 at my elevation. I put a thermometer in when it begins to turn brown. When it rises to 214 it is done. I boil it outside until it is almost done and them take inside to finish.

Never thought of that, but it makes total sense....like using a candy thermometer for judging the cracking stage.