Sap use question...Uses for raw sap.

[DonMcJr]

I was wondering 2 things...is it safe to drink sap straight from the bucket?

Also, I think I read on here that you can make coffee in a coffee pot and use sap straight from the bucket in place of water...is that true?

After I get the answer to both questions...how about some other "uses" for raw sap?

[happy thoughts]

sap- if it's fresh and hasn't sat around too long especially at warmer temps, yes you can drink it. I've read in some countries that's the main use of the sap. They don't make syrup. Birch sap can also be drunk. I think it's Germany where they consider it a spring tonic. I've never tried it but I think birches are tapped late in the season after the maples have stopped flowing.

Re the coffee- don't put it in the coffee pot. The idea, which I thought sounded great was for using it in a french press. That's a manual brewer that has a plunger. You add the hot sap to the press, let it sit a few minutes and then plunge the coffe grounds out.

some other uses for sap- some people make beer from it. I think it would be great to replace water in any recipe that could use a little sweetness. Your oatmeal, maybe rice pudding, or a savory winter squash soup, stew, or curry. I was thinking of trying to make some ginger beer with it. It sounds like you're getting enough sap to be a little creative. Just go for it.

Don, I just want to say that your enthusiasm is contagious. I've enjoyed following your posts. I wish you many more years enjoying this addiction:)

[DonMcJr]

French Press...You mean like a Perculator?? (Spell???) I have a S.S. Perculator for Camping if that's what you mean....I'll Google French Press and see what I get...(Could get interesting LOL!)

I'll give a few things a try and see what happens!!!

[happy thoughts]

Sure, I bet a camping percolator would work. Anything you can get to all the parts to clean, I'd guess. Mr Coffee probably doesn't qualify. You might end up with a sticky mess in the water compartment.:o

[Lee]

I boiled it for just a few minutes, cooled it down then put a gallon in refrigerator.Great with bourbon!

[red maples]

no a french press is different than a perculator. With a perculator you cook it bascially although that would work well I guess didn't think of that one, with a french press you put in hot water(pre heat it first with hot water dump and refill then you put in the coffee grounds wait a minute then push down the plunger which has a screen on it to filter out the coffee grounds.

[Starting Small]

I saw someone on youtube say that they boiled their hot dogs in the sap while it was in the evaporator and they wanted some lunch. I think they said it was on the diluted side not the syrup side of the pan.

[Dfrenzy]

My son and I use it for iced tea but we like it a little sweeter than it is coming out of the tree this year so we have to boil it off for about 15 minutes to get it where we like it. Just last week it was our turn to do the snack for cub scouts so we made maple tea and took maple syrup and waffles the kids loved it. We also took some sap for the kids to taste. One of the parents asked for a tap so they could make more tea at there house. We too have tried to be very creative with the maple sap and syrup. We have a tree in our yard that we do a toast to (with sap) when we tap it as well, it was our first tree tapped ever.

[Vermont Creation Hardwood]

During sap season I keep a pitcher of raw sap in the fridge for the best refreshment during hard work or meals. I dedicate my sweetest tree (3 to 5%) to drinking during the season. I think sap should be marketed as the best ever energy drink instead of the cane sugared ones on the store shelves.

If you get a sap hydrometer you can test each tree. Most of mine average 2%. But this one tree near the house sitting on top of ledge tests consistently as my best. Sometimes I'll freeze the sap if I have extra for a summer treat. Sap is so, so good!

[Z/MAN]

I use it instead of water to make homebrew.

[PerryW]

there's nothing better than drinking fresh sap right from the bucket. I haven't tapped yet, but yesterday I snuck a big drink from my neighbor's bucket when he wasn't looking.

[Flat47]

Duncan's Spirit's Inc in St. J, Vermont distills sap to make their Vermont Gold Vodka.

[hkillam]

During the 2011 season I saw someone advertising sap for sale on Minneapolis Craigslist. If I recall correctly, asking 8 DOLLARS A QUART. Had a lot of text describing its wonderful properties, too.

THAT'S brazen....

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

[KenWP]

I found out the hard way to no use birch sap in the coffee maker.It tastes great cold but you heat it and it goes rotton.

[wiam]

Duncan's Spirit's Inc in St. J, Vermont distills sap to make their Vermont Gold Vodka.

What he uses is more concentrated than sap but not syrup.

[Vermont Creation Hardwood]

Slightly to well concentrated sap is also delicious. This can happen when a significant amount of ice freezes in a bucket or tank. Toss the ice and the sap will actually take on color and taste so sweet! Love sap, as long as it's 2% or better.

[BC Birch Tapper]

Birch Sap Drinks
We've got a photo from the Yukon which shows a Native lady tapping birch trees in 1908. Birch sap has been consumed for centuries in Europe, Scandanavia & Russia. It's been used as a hair tonic, & health drink & is still sold there today. We call it "nature's gatorade", which is water, a bit of sugar & some electrolites, No funky blue or green colours though. What could be better after a long winter to be used as a little pick me up. It is said to assit with urinary tract infections & a variety of other ailements. We find birch sap to be a refreshing & natural drink.
There are issues however if you want to bottle it & store it for any length of time as it will start to ferment after a short time. There have been some tests with the use of ribes (currant juice) as a stablazing agent, but we haven't gone down that road. Freezing it works well.