Makin' Maple Syrup

T

TOPOS_

Joined
Mar 7, 2016
Messages
11
Anyone who has visited New Hampshire or Vermont this time of year will quickly notice the many tubes and buckets hooked up to trees all over the place. My family has been sugaring for the past few generations, but it seems like every year we learn a little bit more. Does anyone else here tap trees? Have any tips, tricks or stories? I (and I'm sure a few others) are all ears.

(I'm not quite sure this is the right place, so please tell me if this is the incorrect subforum)
 
Last edited:
I do tap trees in the spring; mostly Box Elder. It has a buttery flavor, better than Maple IMO.
Rough year here for it though. Got warm and staying there day and night. Might miss out this year.
The only stories I have are boiling all weekend(open fire)and burning the whole batch.:o
I only tap in my yard in town, but most years make about 3 gallons of finished product.
 
I didn't know you could tap Box Elder, my dad has some still on the farm, maybe he'll want to try that next year. (Like the old man doesn't have enough "retirement" projects)
 
When the kids were around to enjoy (and help with the work) we made maple syrup each spring - not a lot but much fun. We called the homemade outdoor cooker the "Sap Zapper", made bottle labels and enjoyed the process a lot. The ratio of raw sap to finish syrup sort of reminds me of using snow to get melt water though. :)

Right now I am experimenting with a batch of camp syrup - potato water and sugar rested for a week or so. I am surprised with the results, in a good way!
 
Now I'm hungry. Where's my pancake flour?

Courtesy of the late, great Roger Miller:

Roses are red
and violets are purple
sugar is sweet
and so's maple syrple
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Now I'm hungry. Where's my pancake flour?

Courtesy of the late, great Roger Miller:

Roses are red
and violets are purple
sugar is sweet
and so's maple syrple
Click to expand...


... certainly a clear echo in my ears to this day. Ever with me, it seems. I hear it. A song of the times for sure. This topic of maple syrup sent me into search mode for poetry on maple syrup. There is plenty ... and if I can get at it on dialup here, I might just post a verse or two. Please, those of you on high speed, is there a verse or two on maple syrup you could add?
 
Don't know how professional you are but I just do it on a small scale. First time I used empty pop bottles to collect the sap.

I have heard to collect on the east side of the tree, but also to spread the holes out each year. I've had good results even on the North side from larger trees.

Generally you don't tap anything under 10" in diameter.

If you don't use sugar maple then you'll have to boil longer and get a lesser quality.

If you're boiling with firewood then you'll want to use birch, alder, and other less smoky woods. Unless you don't mind a smoky taste in your syrup.

Good silviculture will help your trees produce. Plenty of light and access to warming sun in the morning, along with space between trees to keep the nutrients high.

Other than that it is just good use of the thermometer.
 
TOPOS_ said:
Anyone who has visited New Hampshire or Vermont this time of year will quickly notice the many tubes and buckets hooked up to trees all over the place.
Click to expand...
Lot more than just New Hampshire and Vermont. My wife and I spent last weekend at the Maple Sugar Festival in Highland County, Virginia. The maple donuts from Monterey, Virginia are good enough to make you slap your granny!
 
When I was a kid, we went to Tom's River NJ ror a family gathering. Our cousin took us kids around to see the place, she was tapping trees for syrup.
 
In Vermont they put spigots and buckets on telephone poles --to confuse the tourists !! I was just told of a fellow's new neighbor who has set up his 4" dia maples for syrup.He hasn't met the neighbor so he's not sure it's in fun or he really thinks he'll get syrup !!

How about a list of trees you can use , maple , box elder, what else ? ?
 
I used to do this as a kid in southern Ontario. The boiling sap smell was insanely delicious and man does it take a LOT of sap and time, to get the concentrated end result. Apparently some folks tap the Manitoba Maples out west here, and I considered it last spring. But with work, university classes, and metal detecting season starting, I'm sure to bypass it again. Who knows about the future though. I have even considered taping Birch trees. Ya never know.
 
upnorth said:
I used to do this as a kid in southern Ontario. The boiling sap smell was insanely delicious and man does it take a LOT of sap and time, to get the concentrated end result. Apparently some folks tap the Manitoba Maples out west here, and I considered it last spring. But with work, university classes, and metal detecting season starting, I'm sure to bypass it again. Who knows about the future though. I have even considered taping Birch trees. Ya never know.
Click to expand...
Have been runnin to help my missus properties 70y/o neighbour, thinking I'm gonna have a big score of it this year. Dark and blonde. :D
 
Sharp_Canadian said:
Have been runnin to help my missus properties 70y/o neighbour, thinking I'm gonna have a big score of it this year. Dark and blonde. :D
Click to expand...

Cool. Try it fresh from the tree if you pass by one dripping. It already has a hint of sweetness raw.
 
leghog said:
Lot more than just New Hampshire and Vermont. My wife and I spent last weekend at the Maple Sugar Festival in Highland County, Virginia. The maple donuts from Monterey, Virginia are good enough to make you slap your granny!
Click to expand...

If you don't mind, where are you from? I was helping make donuts in the Mill Gap Ruritan donut truck on the first Saturday of the festival. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top