Syrup from the Twin Cities

[Tom Dunlap]

Native communities keep maple syrup traditions going, even in urban areas

An Indigenous organization in Minneapolis helps teach cultural traditions in the city during maple syrup season.

www.mprnews.org

 

[flushcut]

Five gallons of sap boils down to a mason jar of syrup?!!! I don’t think so. Maybe it’s a shot glass sized jar.

 

[Njdelaney]

Isn't it generally a 50:1 ratio? 5 gallons would be about 12 ounces.

 

[flushcut]

Depends on sugar content of the sap. But 40-50:1 is about right.

 

[Boomslang]

Isn't it generally a 50:1 ratio? 5 gallons would be about 12 ounces.

That's a good rule of thumb, but it also varies with the sugar content of the sap.

You can also keep boiling to get maple taffy, maple butter, and maple sugar

 

[GregManning]

My grandparents had 2 sugar houses in New Hampshire back in pre-1960's. (single effect evap; w/ wood fire; a LOT of work ! ! !)

I also still have a jar of syrup that my dad made in NH in 1982 ! ! !

 

[bobs yeruncle]

im going to have to stock up with some of this year's harvest, i love to keep the darkest grade of maple syrup around. any of yall tried other tree syrups like birch? they're more niche products that are harder to find and you definitely pay a premium but i really dig birch syrup, it has a very interesting sweet and sour flavour profile almost like an aged balsamic vinegar. very strong, like a concentrate, not something you use in large amounts or for breakfast, its more suitable for using as an ingredient in marinades, dressings, sauces, glazes and the like. although you can mix birch syrup with the lightest grade of maple syrup at about a 1:10 ratio to get a very interesting pancake syrup

 

[bobs yeruncle]

tapping urban trees reminds me of a friend whose family still speaks in hushed tones about the year they accidentally tapped a maple above the cottages septic tank

 

[surveyor]

I tapped a Maple in my (then) yard here in NC. We boiled it down on a wood stove in my garage. It ended up with a smoky flavor that did not go very well on pancakes : )

 

[Tom Dunlap]

The higher conecntrations might be from the fact that things are so sweet in Minnesota!

 

[GregManning]

I tapped a Maple in my (then) yard here in NC. We boiled it down on a wood stove in my garage. It ended up with a smoky flavor that did not go very well on pancakes : )

You just need a better firebox chimney draft to keep the smoke away from the boiling sap.

 

[GregManning]

That's a good rule of thumb, but it also varies with the sugar content of the sap.

You can also keep boiling to get maple taffy, maple butter, and maple sugar

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 2.0%.

Black maple (Acer nigrum)
Black maples produce as much sweet sap as sugar maples.

Red maple (Acer rubrum)
Sap yields from red maples are generally lower than those from sugar maples.

Silver maple (Acer saccharinum)
Like red maples, silver maples bud out earlier in the spring and have a lower sugar content than sugar maples (1.7% compared to 2.0%).

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.

Environmental conditions, temp, etc; make a huge difference in sap flow & sugar content.

 

[ATH]

Five gallons of sap boils down to a mason jar of syrup?!!! I don’t think so. Maybe it’s a shot glass sized jar.

Isn't it generally a 50:1 ratio? 5 gallons would be about 12 ounces.

Tell us about these 12-16oz shot glasses @flushcut LOL

 

[flushcut]

Have you ever been to Wisconsin?

 

[Brando CalPankian]

I read somewhere you can tap box elder. Anyone have experience with that?

 

[flushcut]

My buddies brother did. 60-70:1 is a more realistic ratio barely any sugar content.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Box elder has a low sugar content. I read once that the syrup has a dusty taste that isn't pleasent.


Birch is good!

CHilled sap is good for sipping in the sauna.

 

[Njdelaney]

Sauna sap sipping sounds spectacular

 

[ATH]

I was surprised the list from @GregManning included Norway maple. That sap seems sticky and bitter - especially when you break a leaf off during the growing season...it looks like elmer's school glue.

 

[flushcut]

I was surprised the list from @GregManning included Norway maple. That sap seems sticky and bitter - especially when you break a leaf off during the growing season...it looks like elmer's school glue.

After bud break the sap gets bitter on all of them.