Birch sap

[Hugo]

Does anybody tap birch for water or for making syrup.
I have seen someone do it every year in Ashdown forest.
I'm thinking that I'll try it out.
From what I've read it's a 100 to 1 ratio to make syrup.

 

[Weesi]

You'll have to wait till the saps rising in March if you want any amount Hugo.
Wait till the buds are just opening
You can get the Augers on Ebay for much cheapness!..

Simon

 

[Bushcraftsman]

*drool* birch sap tastes amazing!

 

[Hugo]

*drool* birch sap tastes amazing!

That's the bit I want to hear.
I only want to give it a go mind you, not make a living from it.

 

[superc0ntra]

I remember last year I was going to take birch sap for the kids to taste and reconed I'd drill a hole, put in a pipe with a bottle attached, leave it for a couple of hours to fill and then let everybody have a sip.
The bottle filled in less than five minutes. It must have been the perfect day.

 

[Melonfish]

Auger is on the cards in new year, i live in a place called "Birchwood", its named for a very good reason

 

[ocean1975]

This is my birch tapping kit looking forward to getting some more in march

 

[launditch1]

You will only need a small auger to open it up.I think these 1 inch augers are a bit of overkill.

 

[Melonfish]

i was going to ask, what gauge would be best, i don't want to leave some huge hole but i want to pull a fair amount of sap, this year just a knife slit was enough to fill a bottle very quick!

 

[launditch1]

Nothing bigger than 1/4 inch or 6mm imo.
If you need more have a couple o' bottles going

 

[Ex Member - Sidney Bounty]

I did not think birch sap makes very good maple syrup but its still OK to use...
I like syrup made from Aspen trees as it does taste just like maple syrup...

 

[littlebiglane]

An inch auger on a decent size tree seems fine to me. I use one. There were some cheap ones going on The Bay a few months ago. Good quality Scotch Eye Augers made about 40 years ago and still in their protective wax/oil. No more than a few pounds.

If you want to also try Norway Maple (very similar to Sycamore) then worth a go too. Sugar content % is down to about 1 or 2% though which is lower than the 4+% you get for Sugar Maple and slightly less than Birch I think. I also think that you can tap Sycamore too - and I might have done thinking it was Norway Maple.

 

[jonnie drake]

last spring myself and a couple of mates tapped a few smallish birch, just using a small hand drill and a couple of bottles. We started in the morning and finished in the evening, and ended up with around 2 pints from four trees. It's a subtle but sweet taste. Very refreshing.