Sycamore Sap?

[JohnL]

Hi,
I have heard you can collect the sap of sycamore like you can with birch & Maple. Is this correct, & if it is how can it be used?

Another thing I was wondering about was reeds. Apparently the common Reed & the Giant Reedmace(aka bullrush) are source of a very sweet suguary substance that can be eaten. Does anyone know how you collect it, & also if you can just eat any of the bits of reed without much preperation, as I often cant be bothered with projects that take more than fifteen minutes.

 

[PJMCBear]

You certainly can, and it can be used just like birch sap. I'm collecting bits at the moment to gather some to try a wine recipe I've found.

I've also read somewhere about reed gum. I think you fold the stem over and it collects under the fold. Not sure of the species though, so couldn't really say for sure.

 

[spamel]

As far as I know, the sycamore is related to the maple somehow. Take a look at the leaves and it looks like a reasonable assumption. You won't get as much sap as out of a maple, but you will get some. You can boil it down to a syrup, but it would be worth collecting a lot to do that because you have to reduce it a massive amount.

 

[JohnL]

ok thanks guys, I shall give the sycamore a go.

 

[andy_e]

I take it the same rules apply as for Birch tapping, i.e. waiting until the buds appear before tapping the tree?

 

[perpetualelevator]

Another thing I was wondering about was reeds. Apparently the common Reed & the Giant Reedmace(aka bullrush) are source of a very sweet suguary substance that can be eaten. Does anyone know how you collect it, & also if you can just eat any of the bits of reed without much preperation, as I often cant be bothered with projects that take more than fifteen minutes.

I think you can eat a lot of parts of our cattails in Canada, but I don't know if it's the same thing as a bullrush. I always thought they were, but I could be wrong. You can use the pollen as a flour substitute, that I think is also quite sweet, being pollen. I think the roots are edible as well, similar to a potato or taro. I'll see if I can find the site.

Edit: Sorry, apparently they're not the same thing, but it might still be worth a try.
http://www.primitiveways.com/cattail_pollen_pancakes.html

 

[PJMCBear]

I take it the same rules apply as for Birch tapping, i.e. waiting until the buds appear before tapping the tree?

That's the way, Andy. When they start swelling.

 

[xylaria]

Hi,
I have heard you can collect the sap of sycamore like you can with birch & Maple. Is this correct, & if it is how can it be used?

Another thing I was wondering about was reeds. Apparently the common Reed & the Giant Reedmace(aka bullrush) are source of a very sweet suguary substance that can be eaten. Does anyone know how you collect it, & also if you can just eat any of the bits of reed without much preperation, as I often cant be bothered with projects that take more than fifteen minutes.

I don't think you should eat anything raw that is growing water that you wouldn't drink. Reedmace has two parts bits you can eat, and bits you can weave. this time of year it is mostly bits you can eat, and by august it is mostly bits you weave. It takes more than fifteen minutes to learn anything about bushtucker.