Maple syrup is a sweet addition to many mains and desserts. However, branded maple syrup has a high price. If you know the location of a maple tree, you can follow these simple steps to make your own syrup and save money.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Knocking on a Tree
Step 1. Look for a maple tree
The most important step in the tree tapping process for maples is finding the right tree. Look for a maple tree that is about 30 cm in diameter and directly into the sun.
- Sugar and black maple trees provide the most sap. Red and silver maple trees also contain sap, but not as much as the previous two species. The tree whose sweet sap is often overlooked is the black walnut.
- Avoid trees that have been damaged before. The tree will not provide as much sap as a large, strong, healthy tree.
- You can tap a tree multiple times if the tree is large enough and healthy. For trees with a diameter of 30 – 50 cm, only one tap can be used. For trees with a diameter of 53 – 68 cm, you can double-tap. You can triple-tap if the tree is more than 71 cm in diameter.
- Trees with larger crowns – all branches and leaves – usually provide more sap than trees with smaller crowns.
Step 2. Know when you can tap
The best time to knock on your tree depends on your location, but in general, the best time is between mid-February and mid-March. Must be above freezing (0 degrees Celsius) during the day and below 0 degrees Celsius at night.
- Changing temperatures cause sap to flow, making it move from tree trunks and branches to roots in the soil.
- The sap flows about 4 – 6 weeks, but this depends on the health of the tree and the environment.
- In general, the best sap is the sap that flows at the beginning.
Step 3. Prepare your equipment
To touch a maple tree, you'll need a bucket with a lid (to keep other things from falling into it), dowels, and a drill. It's also helpful if you have a clean trash can or similar to hold all the sap you tap.
- Thoroughly clean the dowels, bucket, and cover with bleach and water. Make sure they are completely dry before use.
- For your drill, you will need a drill bit that is between 7/16 or 5/16.
Step 4. Decide where you want to tap
Find the ideal spot on the tree to tap, you want your tap to reach healthy wood. Tap the edge of the tree that gets the most sunlight during the day, usually in the south.
- If you can, it would be great if you tap over a large root or under a large branch.
- If the tree you are tapping has been knocked down before, make sure your new dowel is placed at least 15 cm from the old hole.
- Tap on a healthy piece of wood. If you drill and the wood is dark brown or tan, then it is healthy wood. If you drill and the wood is light brown or dark brown, find a new place to tap.
- Drill on a sunny day when the air is slightly warm to minimize the chance of splitting the wood.
Step 5. Drill your holes
Hold the drill at a slight upward angle to make the sap flow easier. Drill about 6 cm deep.
- To find out how deep you are drilling, you can put a mark on your drill when it reaches 6 cm.
- Use a sharp drill bit to avoid making rough holes, which can reduce the amount of sap escaping.
- Remove the wood shavings from the holes when you are finished drilling.
Step 6. Place the dowel on the tree
Tap with a rubber mallet or a regular hammer to make sure the dowel is strong enough that it can't be pulled out easily by hand.
- Don't nail the dowel too tightly to the tree, or you'll run the risk of splitting the wood.
- If you don't want to buy dowels, you can make your own using a 1 cm long aluminum pipe. Avoid using copper as it can poison the tree. Expand one side so that it can be used as a spout to pour the sap in the bucket.
Step 7. Hang your bucket
Hang it at the end of the dowel. If you are making your own nails, use a wire to hang the bucket over the spout to pour the sap.
Step 8. Make sure your bucket is secure, so that it doesn't fall due to being accidentally bumped or exposed to the wind
Use a lid to cover the top of the bucket to prevent debris from entering your bucket
Step 9. Wait for your sap
Collect daily during the day when the air is warm. If the air is good, you will be able to collect the sap for more than a month.
- A healthy tree can provide as much sap as 37, 9 – 308, 2 liters of syrup, and depending on environmental conditions.
- The sap will stop flowing if the temperature during the day does not exceed 0 degrees Celsius, or the temperature at night also exceeds 0 degrees Celsius and is warm.
- Collect your sap in a large container, such as an empty (clean) trash can. Otherwise, you will have a lot of buckets taking up space.
- If the temperature exceeds 7 degrees Celsius, the sap must be frothed. Otherwise, the sap will break down and start to grow bacteria.
Method 2 of 3: Making Maple Syrup
Step 1. Prepare your equipment
You will need a large pot and gas for the outdoors or a wood stove. You'll also need a filter cloth for the syrup and storage. Avoid boiling your sap indoors, as it will generate a large amount of steam.
- You can use a dehumidifier to reduce the amount of steam produced so you can boil the sap indoors.
- A candy or syrup thermometer can be very helpful in getting the sap to the perfect temperature.
- The best maple syrup is made using a wood stove, as the wood stove makes the sap rich in smoky flavour.
Step 2. Boil the sap
Keep the sap at least 30 cm deep to prevent it from burning. Be prepared because the sap boils very quickly and evaporates a lot.
- When the sap boils, add more sap to maintain a depth of 30 cm. You can add cold sap to boiling sap, or sap that has been warmed.
- Boil the sap until it reaches 103 degrees Celsius. This temperature will be pure maple syrup. If you want to make maple sugar, continue to simmer until it reaches 112 degrees Celsius.
Step 3. Strain the syrup
Use a maple syrup filter, which you can buy online, to separate out the "sugar" formed in the boiling process. Always strain the syrup while it is still hot, between 82 and 93 degrees Celsius.
- Heat the syrup filter in hot water for a few minutes before using it. This will help the syrup to filter better, and will also kill any bacteria adhering to the filter.
- Store the syrup waiting to be strained in a sealed container to keep it warm.
- If the syrup cools too much, heat it again until it reaches between 82 and 93 degrees Celsius. Be careful not to overheat as you can burn the syrup.
- If the syrup spills on the filter too quickly, your filter may not be a good one and needs to be replaced. The filter must hold more than pour more.
Step 4. Store your syrup in a sealed container
In order not to expire quickly, you can store it in the refrigerator when you open the lid. Use it in your recipes for a delicious maple flavor.
Method 3 of 3: Using Maple Syrup
Step 1. Make maple sugar candy
This recipe is the simplest of all maple syrup recipes. Bring your syrup back to a higher temperature to turn it into sugar. Then, pour this syrup into molds and refrigerate to make a delicious maple-flavored candy.
Step 2. Try making frozen maples
This icing is perfect for adding to cakes or cupcakes and is super easy to make. Combine maple syrup with brown sugar, vanilla, butter, and white sugar for a quick and easy frozen maple syrup.
Step 3. Make the maple rice pudding
Rice pudding is a sweet and delicious dessert, made using white rice and cream. Add maple syrup and cinnamon for the perfect fall dessert.
Step 4. Heat a cup of maple chocolate
Use a delicious hot chocolate recipe, and add a few teaspoons of maple syrup to make it even better. This drink is perfect for cold nights, escape the snow and ice.
Step 5. Make the walnut maple fudge
Combining the nutty flavor of walnuts and maple syrup with the rich chocolate flavor will give you a fudge that will make your friends beg for the recipe! Try this easy method for making walnut maple fudge.
Tips
- Keep in mind that sap will make up 1/40 of the amount in maple syrup.
- If the tree is 40 cm in diameter and you want more syrup, you can tap the tree on a different side. However, make sure the beat is facing east and west, because a north beat won't produce as much sap.
Warning
- If you knock on a tree that is less than 25 cm in diameter or younger than 30 years, there is a good chance that you will stunt its growth and even accidentally kill the tree.
- When boiling your syrup, keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't boil or burn too much.
- Never leave the syrup boiling.
