Episode 7: Tapping a Tree for Maple SyrupWhat to tap and when?All maples can be tapped for sap. Sugar maples are the sweetest.Can also tap:Birch, walnut, black and english walnut, linden, box elder, butternut, sycamore, palm and gorose. All trees’ saps have their own flavor. Maple (Sugar, Silver, Black, Red, Norway, Big Leaf)40 parts of sap yields 1 part of finished syrupTap when daytime temperatures are above 32F (0C) and nighttime temperatures are belowBirch (European White, Paper, Yellow, Black, Gray, River)110 parts of sap yields 1 part of finished syrupTap when daytime temperatures are 40-50F (4.4-10C)Box Elder60 parts of sap yields 1 part of finished syrupTap when daytime temperatures are above 32F (0C) and nighttime temperatures are belowBlack and English Walnut 60 parts of sap yields 1 part of finished syrupTap when daytime temperatures are above 32F (0C) and nighttime temperatures are belowButternut60 parts of sap yields 1 part of finished syrupTap when daytime temperatures are above 32F (0C) and nighttime temperatures are belowSycamore40 parts of sap yields 1 part of finished syrupTap when daytime temperatures are above 32F (0C) and nighttime temperatures are belowPalm88 parts of sap yields 11 parts finished syruphttp://www.lrrd.org/lrrd11/1/dali111.htmCan be tapped year roundGorosoe40 parts of sap yields 1 part of finished syruphttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/chugging-maple-sap-30413453/Tap when daytime temperatures are above 32F (0C) and nighttime temperatures are belowhttps://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/world/asia/24iht-maple.1.20393336.htmlTree IdentificationRegardless of the variety of tree you are tapping, the process is the same.Be sure to always tap trees that measure 10” (25.4cm) in diameter or more so as not to damage the heartwood. A tree measuring this size can withstand one tap.A tree measuring 20” (50.8cm) can handle two taps.Finally, a tree measuring larger than 25” (63.5cm) in diameter may have three taps.Never install more than three taps per tree. When installing multiple taps, always place them at a minimum of 6 to 8” (15.24 to 20.32cm) apart from one another.Sugar Maple IdentificationBright orange, yellow or reddish leaves in the fallSmoother bark than other maples, dark almost black in colorCan often see these trees dripping with sap from holes or cracks in the winter timeLook for five lobes with deep indentationsEquipment for TappingA power drill5/16” (.8cm) drill bitSpilesHammerBucket hooks (if hanging buckets)Hoses (for ground buckets)Buckets with lidsHarvesting storage bucketsA large potThermometerEquipment for ProcessingEvaporator (optional)Large pot for boilSmall pot for finishingThermometerCheesecloth or fine strainerBottling jars and sealing lidsHow to Tap and BoilTap when temperatures rise above freezing by day, and below freezing by nightLocate the s