This Is How To Make Maple Syrup In Your Backyard

Welcome to the backyard in winter, it's time to tap maple trees.

Identify the type of maple tree (Norway maple) and explain that sap can be collected from various trees.

Drill a hole into the tree for sap collection, ensuring not to tap in the same place twice.

Insert a spline into the hole and attach a bucket with a lid.

Tap multiple trees and wait for the sap to flow, ideally with temperatures below -5°C at night and above +5°C during the day.

Collect sap from the buckets, noting that some trees produce more sap than others.

Boil the collected sap in a giant stock pot on a propane burner.

Boil down the sap to concentrate it, transferring it to a keg fridge when not boiling it all the way to syrup.

After a week, bring the sap inside for finishing once it reaches about 215°F.

Filter the sap through a cone filter to remove sugar sand or niter.

Bring the sap to a boil, aiming for 219°F, and test the sugar content using a digital refractometer.

Prepare bottles by washing and sanitizing them before bottling the syrup.

Once the syrup reaches the desired temperature (185-190°F), filter it again for final polishing before bottling.

Pour the syrup into sanitized 1 liter glass bottles or mason jars.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed