Most Bacteria from inside or outside of tree?

[penfrydd]

Just curious, but what is the "normal" amount of bacterial content of sap straight from the tree, versus the "junk" that falls into it from the outside of the tree?

I'm using drop lines into 5 gallon pails with lids, but it's impossible to keep debris out of the sap when I dump.

Penfrydd Farm
21 taps
half-pint

[Bucket Head]

I'm guessing little to none. Straight from the tree it might be considered sterile. You start to introduce bacteria the second your tapping bit pierces the bark. Bacteria counts climb from that point on. Some slower than others, depending on tapping, gathering and equipment cleaning processes.

[DrTimPerkins]

I'm guessing little to none.

And your guess would be correct. Trees are living organisms with well-developed mechanisms to deal with infections. They don't tolerate microbes living inside their systems. The sap in the tree is relatively free of most microbes to a large extent, until it reaches the taphole.