Toward the end of tapping season, the sap may look slightly cloudy. All that really goes into converting the sap into maple syrup are boiling and evaporation processes. Here are the steps to making maple syrup:. On average, it takes about 40 parts sap to make 1 part syrup. Now you know that any maple tree can be used to make syrup and how to identify which type of maple tree you have in your yard.
Check out the Maple Syrup page here on this website for more how-to info on making your own maple syrup from backyard maple trees. Or check these related posts below:. I love working around our homestead doing chores, building projects, taking care of our critters and livestock, making maple syrup, and messing around with old mechanical equipment.
It may take more than one technique to successfully keep your chickens out of your garden, such as fencing, building raised beds, natural deterrents, or even building them their own garden and But, with good hive management and conditions, most Skip to content.
After a period of warm weather, cloudy sap may appear in buckets or gathering equipment. This is caused by bacterial growth and can have a negative affect on syrup color and taste. A mixture of 1 part unscented household bleach to 20 parts clean water can be used with a cloth or brush to clean the inside surfaces of sap collection equipment.
Follow the cleaning with a triple rinse of clean water to remove any hint of the bleach application. Sap boiling equipment can be cleaned with hot water, or the product recommended by the equipment manufacturer. Do not use any other cleaning substances in any maple equipment. Household detergents cannot be completely rinsed from equipment and will contaminate sap and syrup with undersirable tastes and odors. When washing sap or syrup filters, use hot water only.
At the end of the season after cleaning in the manner described above, store equipment and supplies in a dry place. Production supplies and materials are available from maple equipment dealers throughout the maple producing regions.
Many local hardware stores carry a small line of equipment such as buckets and spiles. Used equipment is often offered for sale in classified sections of local newspapers and agricultural circulars. A maple equipment dealer or distributor nearest you can be located by contacting your local Extension Office, maple producers in your area, or through your county, regional, or state maple organization.
The authors acknowledge the following individuals for review of this bulletin: Jim Finley, Bob Hansen, H. Prepared by Anni L. Davenport, former educator and Lewis J. Let's Stay Connected. By entering your email, you consent to receive communications from Penn State Extension. View our privacy policy. Thank you for your submission! Home Maple Syrup Production for the Beginner. Maple Syrup Production for the Beginner. Maple syrup is among the oldest natural food products produced in North America.
Folklore credits the Native Americans with the discovery of this flavorful natural sweetener. Background Although modern day commercial operations differ greatly from those of our ancestors, the basic process of converting maple sap to syrup still requires the removal of water from the raw sap to form the finished product.
Species to tap Although several types of maples grow in the Northeast, sugar maple Acer saccharum is the traditional species tapped for maple syrup production.
Figure 1. Maple species and leaves. Equipment Most of the equipment required for tapping may be available in the home workshop or purchased with minimal investment. Storage capacity of 1 to 2 gallons for each tap ex. The pan size will vary with the number of taps. Heat source can be wood fire, propane or camp stove. Stainless steel pans fabricated with lead-free solder or welded seams are strongly suggested. Kitchen or candy thermometers may be adequate but must be easily readable above o F.
Procedures Tapping Tap maple trees in early spring when daytime temperatures go above freezing while nighttime temperatures fall below freezing. Table 1. Figure 3. Taphole wound. Collection The volume of sap collected during a flow period will vary from less than a quart to several gallons per tap, depending on the tree, weather conditions, and duration of the flow or run.
Figure 4. Covered sap bucket. Processing Usually about 40 gallons of sap are required to produce one gallon of finished syrup. Filtering When syrup has reached its proper temperature and density, it should be filtered to remove a gritty material called "sugar sand" or "niter" before hot packing in containers.
Cleanliness and quality control After a period of warm weather, cloudy sap may appear in buckets or gathering equipment. Equipment and supplies Production supplies and materials are available from maple equipment dealers throughout the maple producing regions.
Other Sources of Information Tapping guidelines and determining tree diameter. Staats and J. Kelley, Dept. Phone: Sugar maple Acer saccharum The sugar maple yields the highest volume and concentration of sap, making it a superior candidate for tapping. Its sugar content is approximately 2. Black maple Acer nigrum Black maples produce as much sweet sap as sugar maples. The trees closely resemble sugar maples and can be distinguished by their leaves. Black maples tend to have leaves with three major lobes, while leaves from sugar maples have five lobes.
Red maple Acer rubrum Sap yields from red maples are generally lower than those from sugar maples, although some tapping operations utilize only red maples.
The trees bud out earlier in the spring, which may reduce syrup quality near the end of sugaring season. Silver maple Acer saccharinum Like red maples, silver maples bud out earlier in the spring and have a lower sugar content than sugar maples 1. Norway maple Acer platanoides Native to Europe, Norway maples are now considered invasive throughout much of the United Sates.
They are not as sweet as sugar maples, yet can be tapped regardless. Boxelder Acer negundo Also known as Manitoba maple, boxelders can be found growing in urban areas and along roadsides.
Research suggests that boxelders may yield only half the syrup of typical sugar maples. Bigleaf maple Acer macrophyllum Bigleaf maple is the main species of maple growing between central California and British Columbia. Native Americans have tapped these trees for centuries, and although the sugar content and sap flow are less than those from sugar maples, these trees can still provide a commercially viable source of syrup for the Pacific Coast.
Canyon maple, big tooth maple Acer grandidentatum These trees are found primarily throughout the Rocky Mountain states. They also grow in Texas, where they are referred to as Uvalde bigtooth maples. The sugar content is comparable to that of sugar maples, but the volume produced is much less.
Rocky Mountain maple Acer glabrum Rocky Mountain maples are native to western North America, and have been used traditionally by various groups, including the Plateau Natives. The sap is usually consumed fresh as a beverage , and not boiled down to a syrup. The timing and total volume of sap are also comparable to sugar maples. Black walnut Juglans nigra The black walnut tree is a valuable timber species, whose sap flows in autumn, winter, and spring.
It is more common in the Midwest than in the Northeastern United States. Heartnut Juglans ailantifolia A cultivar of Japanese walnuts, heartnuts have sugar contents comparable to sugar maples, but produce much less sap. English walnut Juglans regia These are the walnuts commonly eaten and purchased from supermarkets.
They are not typically found in the Eastern United States, but rather are grown most abundantly in California. English walnut trees can be tapped successfully, especially when subjected to a freezing winter and spring. Yellow birch Betula alleghaniensis The yellow birch tree has been found to have a higher mineral composition, lower sugar content, and a higher ORAC value measure of antioxidant capacity than sugar maple.
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