Brown Sap

[MOUSERIDGE]

I have a small hobby operation in NW Wisconsin, and I have a question about a situation that occurs occasionally with my sap. I primarily tap soft maples (red) and use a combination of sap sacks and open buckets. It"s been a cold and snowy spring so far, and last week with the ground being about 90% snow covered, we received a moderate rainfall overnight. The next day when I collected, about 25% of my sacks and buckets contained a light brown sap, or what I call "tea sap". I have experienced this before late in the season as things are starting to wind down, and I always associated it with the onset of buds. But as cold as it's been, everything is completely dormant right now. I mixed the "tea sap" with the clear sap, and boiled it down. The syrup turned out very dark; quite different from the usual amber color I'm used to. In addition, the sugar content of the "tea sap" was considerably lower based on my final yield (I don't measure sap sugar content). I thought the brown color might have something to do with rainfall directly mixing with the sap, but some of my open buckets were clear, and some of the sacks were brown, so I don't see a connection there. In fact, I have 2 taps in one tree, one of which was clear and the other was brown!

Is it possible the surface roots of the trees absorbed the freshly leached rainfall containing tannins and other materials, and started transpiring it right away? That would also explain the low sugar content. Any answers / experiences?? Thanks.

[jmayerl]

You have rain water in your sap. The color comes from running down the side of the tree, onto the tap, and into a bucket. Can be brown, yellow, or any mix of colors in between. The low sugar content is because the bucket is likely 50% sap/50% rainwater. Not all buckets will look like that because of the lean of the treen or location of the tap and how the water runs down it.

[MOUSERIDGE]

OK, it sounds like it's not rain water falling directly into the buckets, but rather rain water flowing down the stem of the tree and then into the bucket / sack. I thought about that possibility, but dismissed it because of the inconsistency. What you say about the lean of the tree and the exact location of the tap makes sense. Didn't think such a small amount would make such a big difference. Thanks!

[Diesel Pro]

If you look at the base of the tree you will often see the snow get yellow stained after a rain.

[MOUSERIDGE]

YES, and that was apparent this morning when I collected. We received another 3" of snow yesterday, followed by rain in the late afternoon. Pretty ugly weather really. With fresh snow on the ground today, the stains were apparent around the bases of many trees, but not all trees. None of my sap sacks were discolored, but numerous buckets were. I think the staining is more a product of rain water dripping off the tree, esp. from overhanging branches, and the trunk if it's a leaner. I think flow down the trunk onto the spile and then into the bucket is less of an issue, but probably still a contributing factor. I don't think it takes much to discolor a day's flow.

[lpakiz]

I suspect that the EXACT location of the tap is the culprit. Look to see if water is channeled into the spout or away from the spout, due to the formation of the ridges and valleys of the bark. I have this same phenominun in my yard trees. Some pails are plumb full of brown sap and the other pail on the same tree is clear with about 4 inches of sap in the bucket. Sometime when it is raining, I'm gonna take an umbrella and a handful of paper towels and go see if this is what's happening....

[MOUSERIDGE]

Yes, I agree the exact location of the tap will influence stem flow down the tap, or around it. I took a closer look yesterday to note if I had taps in fissures or flatter ridges, and will pay more attention to that next year when I put them in.
With fresh snow on the ground yesterday followed by a rain event, there were many yellow / brown splashes near the bases of numerous trees of different species. I feel most of the stain is dripping off the crowns, or off the stem of the tree when it's a leaner. I think I just need to cover my open buckets, and that should take care of most of it. I have 4 gallon square buckets that work great, but they didn't come with tops.

[MikeSorcinelli]

Is there any problem with still using the brown color sap to boil for maple syrup? Will the rain water ruin it? Should I throw it away or is it ok to still use it?

[Sugarmaker]

Couple thoughts here. You said open buckets? You mean no lids? If so get lids. Second I had sap several seasons where every other bucket (with lids) was brown, orange or yellow. I really dont think it was rain. I dumped some, gatered some and made syrup. I believe it was mainly due to warm weather temps. I have seen trees with a big knot hole above a tap produce undesirable sap.
Regards,
Chris

[Chickenman]

I'm using PVC holders for sap sacks. I get some discolored sap after a good rain in the bags. I know it's staining from the water running down the bark and finding it's way into the bag. I have test plugs on my holders and they will collect and hold water. Some times the water on top of the cap is really dark. If the sap is only slightly colored I will use it.
1 gallon of bark stained sap mixed into 45 or more gallons of clear sap is nothing in scope of things. But if its dark, I use the philosophy of when in doubt, throw it out.

[goose52]

Chicken- the last coupla years i have been switching over from buckets to pvc sap sak holders using hose clamps & test caps. i haven't had a big problem with rain getting into the bags but i agree with ur philosophy. sap doesn't grow on trees but close enough to not have to use questionable sap that might taint the final product. i will pay more attention this year and see how tap placement affects getting stained sap in the bags.
mark

[Bruce L]

Is there any problem with still using the brown color sap to boil for maple syrup? Will the rain water ruin it? Should I throw it away or is it ok to still use it?
Toss it! Try drinking the sap compared to clear sap that doesn’t have rainwater in it and it will make for a quick easy decision

[Polaris1]

Just wondering if you tried an o-ring on the tap between tree and bucket or sack? Water would run down and once it hit the o-ring would drip off that.