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View Full Version : would like to produce a little darker syrup


falconer
03-15-2013, 09:13 AM
I've been doing this for 11 years now and still don't know a lot about sugaring. My syrup is light honey colored, good thickness and tastes like heaven. However, I see other maple syrup that is a little darker with a bit stronger flavor. Only once, early on did I have batch like this and can't reproduce it. Any thoughts on this? I use a homemade arch and have limited trees. in a good year, I produce only 3 gallons.
Greg Freeze
03-15-2013, 10:39 AM
Usually only the early sap makes syrup that is as light as honey and as the season continues the syrup darkens.
PapaSmiff
03-15-2013, 10:55 AM
This year, I also am getting only light syrup. But I've had medium and dark in other years - typically towards the end of the season. Dr. Perkins probably has a good explaination for the cause of dark syrup, somewhere on this site. I think it's related to increased bacteria in the sap when it gets warmer, or something like that.

I'm told that if you boil longer, and not short batches like I do (about 1/2 gallon of syrup at a time on turkey fryer), that it will get darker because it carmelizes a bit more. But i'm afraid it would impact the flavor.
Asthepotthickens
03-15-2013, 10:58 AM
Let your sap sit around for a few days. Most like a lighter syrup with a stronger maple taste that is what I get with fresh sap after a few runs.
SPILEDRIVER
03-15-2013, 11:27 AM
store the sap a few days will darken it up and give a stronger flavor.....i usually can only boil weekends so some of my sap is stored for 5 or 6 days befor i boil,i usually get medium to dark amber from this(im allso batch boiling) but this year even with it setting around a few days and batch boiling im getting light amber/fancy syrup...........go figure.....i prefer some color/flavor with mine
Jeff E
03-15-2013, 11:36 AM
You guys are to conciensious! Let that sap go bad, mix in some ash and bugs, and cook it in a rusty mild steel pan. You'll get black, very strong syrup. Or start tapping Birch trees, I hear that is somewhere between maple syrup and turpentine flavored!

(sorry, I couldn't resist)
Asthepotthickens
03-16-2013, 07:18 AM
You guys are to conciensious! Let that sap go bad, mix in some ash and bugs, and cook it in a rusty mild steel pan. You'll get black, very strong syrup. Or start tapping Birch trees, I hear that is somewhere between maple syrup and turpentine flavored!

(sorry, I couldn't resist)

You forgot to add deer poop