Birch sap storage/shelf life

[xavierdoc]

I tapped a couple of trees two weeks ago, obtaining 3litres of sap. Stored it in two bottles in fridge.I drank one litre (diluted with a drop of Macallans ) within a week but noticed the sap becoming slightly cloudy toward the end of the bottle.

My second bottle is unopened and is slightly cloudy, where once it was crystal clear.

Is this normal, or does it represent the sap "going off"?

Is there anything I can do to prolong storage time in the fridge or do I have to make wine/beer/syrup/ice cubes before it goes cloudy?

Thanks

 

[Cobweb]

Trust your senses, humans have a great nose for something that smells bad, take a sniff.
I'm not an expert here but I would guess with all the sugars in the sap that it could be fermenting?

Toddy will know

 

[xavierdoc]

There is a definite sediment in amongst the cloudy stuff. Doesn't look particularly appealing. Shame as I really enjoyed drinking it fresh.

I'll await Toddy's response (and other experts )

 

[match]

There are all sorts of minerals and salts in birch sap - a lot of these do precipitate out, especially if chilled for a long time. Its usually fine to drink, but as Cobweb says, you'll soon know if its started to go off or ferment by the smell, and if it hisses when you open the bottle you know somethings been growing in it.

If its still ok, add a few tablespoons of lemon juice, a crushed vitamin C tablet or some potassium sorbate (if you're a home brewer) - all of these will slow down or stop anything else taking residence in your sap.

 

[xylaria]

Birch sap goes manky quickly, I freeze mine.

as cobweb said give it a sniff, if it smells manky it proberly is. Gone manky smells like the scrumpy hangover breath.

Saying that the whole science of alcohol has being brought out by mans great question " is this alright to drink or will i go blind"

 

[andy_e]

... Saying that the whole science of alcohol has being brought out by mans great question " is this alright to drink or will i go blind" ...

LOL! Good one, though I'd call it more of an Art than a Science, being more like creative risk taking than logical deduction. I well (read - mostly) remember many days and nights of creative alcoholic risk taking in my youth