Sugar content

[MN Jake]

I am new at this and tapped 8 silver maples in our river bottom. I tasted it out of the tap and it tasted quite sweet, and if I get any on my hands it dries pretty sticky. Is this normal for 2-3% sugar.

[Wardner in Tewksbury]

I am new at this and tapped 8 silver maples in our river bottom. I tasted it out of the tap and it tasted quite sweet, and if I get any on my hands it dries pretty sticky. Is this normal for 2-3% sugar.

I just splashed some 2.6 sap on my hand. When dry, it is slightly sticky but no where near like Coca-Cola. It is not so much sticky but more like it increases the friction when rubbing adjacent fingers against each other. Maybe you have 10% sap. LOL

Won't comment on taste, but from my perspective, I have to be able to detect a certain level of sweetness or it is not worth boiling. I have a refractometer so I always test sap.

You can get an optical refractometer on eBay for around $20. Search on "sap refractometer".