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Sap Collection
Timing is Important
Sap should be gathered promptly, especially when
temperatures are above freezing. Fresh, clean sap which has been kept cool
during collection and prior to boiling will produce syrup which is
one to two grades higher than old, contaminated sap. Since higher
quality syrup commands a higher price, it makes sense to collect and boil sap as
quickly as possible.
 Sap
Gathering Pails
Sap should be gathered from buckets in
containers that are used specifically for that purpose. It is important
NOT
to use pails that have contained non-food products.
Be Observant
Maple sap and syrup pick up
off-flavors
easily. Be sure that particles from exhaust pipes of tractors do not float into
gathering pails or tanks. Contact of sap with any petroleum product is
especially dangerous.
Sap Ice
The ice formed in sap buckets can help to keep
the sap cool in storage; however, many sugarmakers throw away the ice because
they believe that it contains very little sugar. With today's high fuel costs,
the producer may wish to check the sugar content of melted ice before making a
decision about whether to keep or discard ice.
Sap Filtering
Filter sap through multiple filters, first through
coarse filtering materials to remove bark, small wood shavings and debris, then
through a finer filter. Removing foreign materials from the sap before it is
evaporated will usually
upgrade syrup by at least one grade…a
higher price for a small effort and expenditure. All sap filters should be
changed often and kept clean to avoid off-flavors. For filtering sap, many sugarmakers use filtering materials which are available from maple equipment
suppliers.
Sap Tanks
Keep Tanks Clean Throughout the Season
Between runs, when practical, sap gathering and
storage tanks may be rinsed. Be cautious if using the solution of one part
unscented household chlorine bleach to twenty parts of water. Make sure that
everything with which sap may come in contact has been
thoroughly rinsed so that no chlorine residue remains. The
solution should not be permitted to remain in the tanks, since chlorine has
corrosive effects on galvanized metal.
Keep it Cool and Covered
Tanks should be located outside the sugarhouse,
preferably on the north or northwest side, away from all possibility of direct
sunlight. A loose covering over the storage tanks will prevent rain and foreign
materials from lowering the quality of the sap.
Storing Sap
Sap should not be left long in tanks when
weather is above freezing; the quality of the sap will begin to deteriorate,
producing lower grade syrup.
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