The maple trees are running hot right now...

[Earth_First]

We hauled 20 gallons of maple sap out of the woods today. My neighbor and I split it into two 10 gallon batches to boil down into syrup. I'm on the tail end of a boil, probably another 3 hours to go on the turkey fryer base on the patio.

Rinse and repeat tommorrow.

[elleng]

1. THANK YOU!!!

[NV Whino]

2. Yay!

[Auntie Bush]

5. Think I'll make some pancakes with dark amber Vermont maple syrup in the AM

Thanks for the idea!

[onestepforward]

3. What's the total time for boiling?

Also, do you boil the sap by itself or do you add anything? I'm a total novice about this

[Earth_First]

4. I'm almost finished for the day...

10 gallons of pure sap, nothing added has taken 11 hours.

I'll take it off the burner outdoors with 2 gallons left and finish it on the stove in the morning, probably another hour.

Probably an hour and change per gallon to boil.

The yield will be about just shy of half a gallon.

Total novice here too. This is my first time.

[Auntie Bush]

6. Wow! 10 gallons of sap to get a 1/2 gal of syrup! Plus all that cooking and collecting.

No wonder it's so expensive...but it sure is delicious.

[OriginalGeek]

7. how do you know when it's done?

is it time or appearance? Your bucket full looks clear so does it turn browner as it cooks?


i grew up eating pancakes with Aunt Jemima syrup and never knew any better until a few years ago I was at an Amish restaurant and got some corn fritters they served with real maple syrup. Mind was blown. I walked out of the restaurant literally angry with my mom for not ever showing me real syrup.

[Earth_First]

8. Spoon/taste test...

In a commercial setting I'd imagine its a bit more scientific, however I'm just guestimating it.

I'm not aiming for perfection.

Close. But if I'm not producing a Grade A product, I won't lose sleep over it.

It's been a fascinating experiment.

[OriginalGeek]

9. I betcha boiling it straight from the tree

you'll end up with grade A a million times better than Aunt Jemima.


Seriously. I'm still pissed about all the crap syrup I ate growing up.

[Earth_First]

10. Oh yeah...

This stuff is going to be superb!

Can't wait!

We're winging it, but it's pretty simple.

That hfcs stuff is terrible. Like fake honey.

[onestepforward]

11. Thanks for the answers!

I hope your first batch turns out great!

[Brother Buzz]

12. Working a wood fired sugar house is on my bucket list

Lucky you, even if you are using propane and propane accessories.

[Earth_First]

13. The yield:

4 pints of 100% pure Oatka New York Maple syrup...

[Raine1967]

14. Beautiful!

We used to make syrup when I lived in the Hudson valley. There is nothing like syrup you made yourself.

Congratulations!

[Earth_First]

15. There really isn't...

It's a really gratifying experience.

I've already got plans to brew a smoked maple porter this weekend...

#ohboy

[Raine1967]

16. ooOOoo I'd love to know how that turns out.

Hubby brews a mean porter.

[TuxedoKat]

17. How many trees

did you tap to get the ten gallons? I always wondered if I could do this, have lots of maple trees on my property.

[Earth_First]

18. I think we've got 6 trees with 10 taps...

Mind you, that 20 gallons was 1.5 day's production.

I'm sure you'd have enough even if you only had a handful of maples.

The sap can store outdoors, covered for a few days this time of yeat until you had enough for a full boil off.

You should try it out...