First timer with syrup

[ash10383]

Just finished jarring our first boil, I know now it was a bit early but I put out 13 taps on buckets, just sugar /black, the last week of Jan and have gathered about 49 gallons of sap since yesterday and got 6.25qt of syrup! We did most boiling outside on a kettle in a fire ring and I finished it inside. I think that's just over 3% so I'm thrilled for such an early run..my husband is already planning to build a evaporator..we have another 12 marked trees to tap next week at a more reasonable time

[ash10383]

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[BAP]

Congratulations, syrup looks great. Be careful, sugaring is addictive and most people, once they get it in their blood are always on the lookout for more trees to tap.

[D and D Sugar Camp]

Nice looking syrup. Good clarity. Best wishes.

[TerryEspo]

I love the cooker and pot !!

Thanks for sharing.

Terry

[WI Sugarpop]

My son and I had a very similar start in 1997 and now we do 300 taps on a 2x6 evaporator in a 14x20 sugar shack. In March and April everything revolves around sugaring!!!!! No turning back. BTW nice looking sweet.

[Sugarmaker]

Welcome!
Good looking evaporator! Your doing good! Have fun gathered around the steam. Enjoy some pancakes too.
Regards,
Chris

[Ray_Nagle]

Just finished jarring our first boil, I know now it was a bit early but I put out 13 taps on buckets, just sugar /black, the last week of Jan and have gathered about 49 gallons of sap since yesterday and got 6.25qt of syrup! We did most boiling outside on a kettle in a fire ring and I finished it inside. I think that's just over 3% so I'm thrilled for such an early run..my husband is already planning to build a evaporator..we have another 12 marked trees to tap next week at a more reasonable time

Congrats, it looks great. When you say "just over 3%" I assume you mean sugar content of the sap. That seems a bit high...here's how I'd come up with the number:

6.25 qt = 1.5625 gal
1.5625 gal X .66 (assuming you've got the minimum required density for maple syrup) = 1.03125 gal of sugar
1.03125 gal of sugar / 49 gal of sap = 2.1% sugar content

Based on your 3% figure, I'm assuming you didn't account for the fact that finished maple syrup is still about 30% water. Also, to be sure my calculation is accurate, you'd need to test the finished sugar content with refractometer.

Sorry if I just nerded out.

[ash10383]

Congrats, it looks great. When you say "just over 3%" I assume you mean sugar content of the sap. That seems a bit high...here's how I'd come up with the number:

6.25 qt = 1.5625 gal
1.5625 gal X .66 (assuming you've got the minimum required density for maple syrup) = 1.03125 gal of sugar
1.03125 gal of sugar / 49 gal of sap = 2.1% sugar content

Based on your 3% figure, I'm assuming you didn't account for the fact that finished maple syrup is still about 30% water. Also, to be sure my calculation is accurate, you'd need to test the finished sugar content with refractometer.

Sorry if I just nerded out.

your right, i didn't take into consideration it is still a liquid! my calculations just mean I have 3% of what I started with, I guess I didn't know how to actually calculate it oops :)