How to Make Maple Syrup
Before the maple syrup sogs up pancakes, it's just clear sap sitting in sap sacks. Jack Schmidling documents the process, which started last winter (sap flow needs freezing temperatures) and has now entered the boiling and jarring phases. He heats the sap until it reaches half the concentration of syrup, then cools and reduces the liquid to reach actual syrup consistency. This year, Schmidling tapped sap from 23 silver maple trees. [via Neatorama]
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4 Comments:
Does this make anyone else think of Little House in The Big Woods?
MegB at 11:03AM on 11/04/08
My sister & I were just talking about how maple syrup is associated with fall, yet it's actually a springtime product. I love maple syrup, and am looking forward to trying to tap my own maple trees next spring. Thanks for posting this...it gives me lessons, and inspiration.
mepolo at 12:55PM on 11/04/08
we had a few maple trees in the backyard when i was growing up in vermont. homemade maple syrup and candy was the best part of muddy, cold, ugly spring. we didnt have no fancy "sap sack" though...in fact i';ve never seen them! we just had some skinny pvc pipe sticking out of a drilled hole, with a hardware store bucket hanging from it. straining out the bugs was all part of the fun!
delilah at 3:56PM on 11/04/08
Tapping trees at home and making maple syrup is great fun for young and old. www.tapmytrees.com has detailed information on the process and offers starter kits for those looking to tap a few trees at home.
tapmytrees at 10:16PM on 02/24/09