Maple Syrup season!

The #1 community for Gun Owners in Indiana

Member Benefits:

  • Fewer Ads!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • cg21

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    25   0   0
    May 5, 2012
    4,549
    113
    Is there a kit I can buy that isn’t garbage? Just to do a couple trees with my kids for personal consumption? Not big time like you guys I know there are tons of starter kits but would like something I can reuse and not just throw away money any suggestions from the pros?
     

    phylodog

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    59   0   0
    Mar 7, 2008
    18,752
    113
    Arcadia
    I've got five huge maple trees in my front yard but I don't know which type they are and if I could tap them for syrup.
     

    shibumiseeker

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    49   0   0
    Nov 11, 2009
    10,708
    113
    near Bedford on a whole lot of land.
    Is there a kit I can buy that isn’t garbage? Just to do a couple trees with my kids for personal consumption? Not big time like you guys I know there are tons of starter kits but would like something I can reuse and not just throw away money any suggestions from the pros?
    You don’t need to be big time to enjoy it. Buy a few 5/16” taps off amazon or any of the online vendors, drill a 3-4” hole at a slight upwards angle 2-4’ off the ground and pound the tap in. Small trees 8-10” diameter get one tap. Bigger can get 2-4 taps depending on size.

    You can collect in anything you can hang on the taps. My first year it was plastic milk jugs and bleach bottles.

    You’ll get sap flow on some days when it gets above 40 degrees or so. You can collect until the trees start to bud out. Sap will start to go bad after a couple of days in warmer weather so collect and boil every day or two. If you get a few ants or flies in the sap as you are collecting, no big deal, you are boiling and filtering it.

    Boil down the sap until it is as thick as you like. You can do a rolling boil at first but slow it down to a simmer as you get closer. When you are really close it will start to foam and will do so really quickly, like opening a soda can you shook up, so be ready to remove the heat fast. At this point you can continue to very gently heat (use a water bath for better control) to the point you like. Filter through any filter paper. Coffee filter, paper towel, whatever.

    Enjoy! If it gets a little mold on top after stored for a few months, heat it up, skim off the mold, and you are good to go.

    It will take 40-70 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup depending on your maple species and sap runs. Each tap will flow for 6-8 weeks and the flavor gets stronger and darker as the season progresses. A tap will typically provide a pint to a quart of syrup each over the season. If you boil a lot of sap from say, 30-40 taps, inside on a stove you can make it rain inside your house. Don’t ask how I know.
     

    gregkl

    Outlier
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    33   0   0
    Apr 8, 2012
    11,868
    77
    Bloomington
    It will take 40-70 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup depending on your maple species and sap runs. Each tap will flow for 6-8 weeks and the flavor gets stronger and darker as the season progresses. A tap will typically provide a pint to a quart of syrup each over the season. If you boil a lot of sap from say, 30-40 taps, inside on a stove you can make it rain inside your house. Don’t ask how I know.
    This is why I like to get some of the first or early tapped stuff. :)
     

    cg21

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    25   0   0
    May 5, 2012
    4,549
    113
    Ok I ordered 10 taps I suppose I should start picking my candidates for tapping.



    this is what I am planning.
    Pick a tree, insert taps, hang milk jug, collect sap daily, boil it (outside), then it is shelf stable put it into a mason jar set it on shelf, repeat tomorrow add to the same jar.

    about how long does the boiling take? I know it depends on how much sap. Just rough estimate ?

    if there is anything I am missing please correct me before I learn the hard way.
     

    shibumiseeker

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    49   0   0
    Nov 11, 2009
    10,708
    113
    near Bedford on a whole lot of land.
    Ok I ordered 10 taps I suppose I should start picking my candidates for tapping.



    this is what I am planning.
    Pick a tree, insert taps, hang milk jug, collect sap daily, boil it (outside), then it is shelf stable put it into a mason jar set it on shelf, repeat tomorrow add to the same jar.

    about how long does the boiling take? I know it depends on how much sap. Just rough estimate ?

    if there is anything I am missing please correct me before I learn the hard way.
    You’ve pretty much got it. You can leave the partially processed sap in a large stock pot until it is ready as you add to it as long as you bring it to a low boil every day. Then we’ll have a week or two of no sap run and you can finish what you have. When it’s done put it in pint or quart mason jars, seal them, and immerse them totally in a pot of water on a rolling boil for half an hour to sterilize and they will keep for years.

    How long it takes depends on how much boiling area you have and how hard you boil it. Harder boils darken the syrup as it caramelizes the sugars. A low wide pan will boil off faster, but you also risk scorching it.

    This is why I got excited about our RO system, it takes the hundred gallons of sap I have now and makes 25 gallons of concentrate. Much less fuel involved to boil down.
     
    Last edited:

    patience0830

    .22 magician
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 96.6%
    28   1   0
    Nov 3, 2008
    17,593
    149
    Not far from the tree
    You don’t need to be big time to enjoy it. Buy a few 5/16” taps off amazon or any of the online vendors, drill a 3-4” hole at a slight upwards angle 2-4’ off the ground and pound the tap in. Small trees 8-10” diameter get one tap. Bigger can get 2-4 taps depending on size.

    You can collect in anything you can hang on the taps. My first year it was plastic milk jugs and bleach bottles.

    You’ll get sap flow on some days when it gets above 40 degrees or so. You can collect until the trees start to bud out. Sap will start to go bad after a couple of days in warmer weather so collect and boil every day or two. If you get a few ants or flies in the sap as you are collecting, no big deal, you are boiling and filtering it.

    Boil down the sap until it is as thick as you like. You can do a rolling boil at first but slow it down to a simmer as you get closer. When you are really close it will start to foam and will do so really quickly, like opening a soda can you shook up, so be ready to remove the heat fast. At this point you can continue to very gently heat (use a water bath for better control) to the point you like. Filter through any filter paper. Coffee filter, paper towel, whatever.

    Enjoy! If it gets a little mold on top after stored for a few months, heat it up, skim off the mold, and you are good to go.

    It will take 40-70 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup depending on your maple species and sap runs. Each tap will flow for 6-8 weeks and the flavor gets stronger and darker as the season progresses. A tap will typically provide a pint to a quart of syrup each over the season. If you boil a lot of sap from say, 30-40 taps, inside on a stove you can make it rain inside your house. Don’t ask how I know.
    You’ve pretty much got it. You can leave the partially processed sap in a large stock pot until it is ready as you add to it as long as you bring it to a low boil every day. Then we’ll have a week or two of no sap run and you can finish what you have. When it’s done put it in pint or quart mason jars, seal them, and immerse them totally in a pot of water on a rolling boil for half an hour to sterilize and they will keep for years.

    How long it takes depends on how much boiling area you have and how hard you boil it. Harder boils darken the syrup as it caramelizes the sugars. A low wide pan will boil off faster, but you also risk scorching it.

    This is why I got excited about our RO system, it takes the hundred gallons of sap I have now and makes 25 gallons of concentrate. Much less fuel involved to boil down.
    We made syrup when I was a kid. Miss the people I did it with. Had a 5 tap tree in the front front yard. Have gotten away from pancakes and waffles so not much call for it in my 2 person household. But I keep a quart of the good stuff around. Maybe next time I eat ice cream.
    Thanks for the memories, Shibum.
     

    cg21

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    25   0   0
    May 5, 2012
    4,549
    113
    Thanks a lot for all the info. My taps will be here Friday glad I don’t have to fully process daily.
     

    shibumiseeker

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    49   0   0
    Nov 11, 2009
    10,708
    113
    near Bedford on a whole lot of land.
    We run new taps every year for various reasons. You can reuse them but yields do go down a bit. It’s also faster and easier for us to clean and seal lines we leave in the woods if we just snip the old taps off. I usually chuck them in the woodstove. In bulk they run $.20 each, I’m happy to give them away to anyone who wants to pay shipping. I probably have 50 or so left. I also have a bunch of short sections of tubing, perfect to go from taps to a bucket on the ground. Same offer. They will need to be cleaned and sterilized.
     

    tosharri

    Plinker
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jun 24, 2017
    55
    8
    Plainfield
    I would LOVE to purchase some Indiana maple syrup!!!! will follow this post as well - I'm in Avon. I went to a few places that made syrup up in Maine...one day would love to know how to do it on a smaller scale but other projects have prevailed to date :)
     

    tylerr23

    Plinker
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Jan 7, 2013
    81
    8
    Wabash Indiana
    I would LOVE to purchase some Indiana maple syrup!!!! will follow this post as well - I'm in Avon. I went to a few places that made syrup up in Maine...one day would love to know how to do it on a smaller scale but other projects have prevailed to date :)
    If you ever get a little north to the wabash area I could hook you up with some. If you happen to be up when the operation is running you could stop by and see the process. It is a larger scale operation. All interesting stuff

    Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
     

    cg21

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    25   0   0
    May 5, 2012
    4,549
    113
    Well 10 taps and hangers came in the mail going to go out tomorrow and put some out! Any last minute tips for me and my daughters?
     

    shibumiseeker

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    49   0   0
    Nov 11, 2009
    10,708
    113
    near Bedford on a whole lot of land.
    Well 10 taps and hangers came in the mail going to go out tomorrow and put some out! Any last minute tips for me and my daughters?
    If you got the metal taps, don’t pound them in too hard or you’ll split the wood. If plastic taps, seat them firmly.

    You’ll have best results if you wait for the morning of the next time daytime high temps will be above 40f or so. Tapping when it is frozen out doesn’t get you much and you basically start the clock once you drill. The hole will produce for 6-8 weeks before it starts to heal and stop.
     

    cg21

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    25   0   0
    May 5, 2012
    4,549
    113
    Thanks doesn’t look like we have a good day coming up in the next week is there anytime too late to start?


    If you got the metal taps, don’t pound them in too hard or you’ll split the wood. If plastic taps, seat them firmly.

    You’ll have best results if you wait for the morning of the next time daytime high temps will be above 40f or so. Tapping when it is frozen out doesn’t get you much and you basically start the clock once you drill. The hole will produce for 6-8 weeks before it starts to heal and stop.
     

    indyjohn

    PATRIOT
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    77   0   0
    Dec 26, 2010
    7,505
    77
    In the trees
    I got a small bottle of pure maple syrup as a gift from a friend in Wisconsin. It’s in a small glass bottle with a handle on it and no label or markings at all. Will be trying it soon to give feedback.
    Man, the last time I saw you was at the Indy 1500 a few years ago now. Hope you're doing well.
     

    three50seven

    Sharpshooter
    Rating - 100%
    21   0   0
    Jun 6, 2011
    332
    43
    Miami County
    This will be my 3rd year making syrup. We've run 5 taps the last 2 years. I have access to a few more trees this year and plan to run around 10 taps. I know it's still a very small operation, but we do it for the fun of it and give a little bit away to friends and family.

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
     

    tosharri

    Plinker
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Jun 24, 2017
    55
    8
    Plainfield
    If you ever get a little north to the wabash area I could hook you up with some. If you happen to be up when the operation is running you could stop by and see the process. It is a larger scale operation. All interesting stuff

    Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
    Thank you Tyler!!! I may take you up on that
     
    Top Bottom