Canadian Trappers Talk Forum

anyone here on the site ever tried making maple syrup?
i would like to try it this spring and was wondering if anyone here any tips

how big of a tree should you tap into?
how much sap should you take from a tree ?
and so on

thanks

matt

I have boiled sap down for the purpose of making wine and it is not difficult work but time consuming.
If you are collecting sap you are better off collecting from several trees at time as sap does deteriorate over time unless you have a way to freeze it until you have enough to boil down.
Boiling in a large pan that is shallow is preferable as it speeds up the process. The more area you have to evaporate off the better.
Be careful not too boil it with too much fire as it will burn especially when it gets sweeter and thicker.
Takes 40L of sap to make 1L of syrup.
This is a great outing for the kids.
Greg

I havent done it myself, but like you I would live to give it a shot.

I have 20-25 mature maples in my yard that my neighbour taps. He actually taps quite a few yards around the neighbourhood. He has a really nice setup, sugar shack, holding tanks, multiple boiling trays, the whole deal. Once done he gives everyone who lets him tap trees a few litres of syrup.

When the sap is really flowing good the 4L jugs he uses can be full every morning when he collects but most of the time they are 1/2 or so full. He doesnt seem to concerned about taking too much sap from one tree. All my trees are still very healthy.

Last year he boiled 4000 litres of sap and got 107 litres of syrup. Better than 40:1. He said it was one of the best years for the sap being sweet. He also had years he said it would take upwards of 50L of sap to get a litre of syrup. He has kept some very intersesting records.


I helped a bit this year, it is time consuming and its quite 'beer' intensive also......... but still fun.

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Gth if you can't handle the beer you should try some sap that has been reduced halfway and add a good shot of Canadian rye. This should be taken while it is still
warm.
Just to thick of it makes my mouth water.

Thats what we were washing the beer down with..............

_________________
I'll thank you to remember that your personal opinion is not reason
enough to limit the hard won freedoms of a democratic people!

gth how big are the trees that your neighbor taps into

12" diameter and up.

Check here............http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/PDFpubs/7036.pdf

_________________
I'll thank you to remember that your personal opinion is not reason
enough to limit the hard won freedoms of a democratic people!