Eastern Ontario 2023

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Originally Posted by paulslund

LOL.. So 66Brix is 66% sugar and represents 660ml (actually I think it's technically mg, not ml) of sugar in 1000ml of total solution (i.e. syrup). If you want the 660ml of sugar to represent 15%, then divide 660 by 0.15 and you will obtain 4,400ml. That is the total solution you need.. so if you are starting with 1L, and need 4.4L (without changing the amount of sugar) you would add 3.4L of distilled water. Then you will have a solution with 660mL of sugar on a total of 4.4L of total, which gives 660/4400 = 15%.

If you're starting point is 1/2L of syrup, then divide the above by 1/2 (i.e. you would add 1.7L of the .5L of syrup to get a 15% solution).

Make sense?

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Uhhh....I'll look at it again in the morning after coffee. I seriously am math dyslexic.

Looking at the weather forecast (Kingston area), after the weekend, the next couple of weeks don't look like they are going to be below zero at night. Is anyone looking at pulling taps soon?

I think I'll pull my buckets this weekend, mostly because I'm going back to work next week. But then, if I can collect Monday and Tuesday (weather permitted) I'll definitely be done next weekend. I've made 33 litres of syrup so far and every batch has been light in colour. I'll be emptying my pan today and it looks like as well, so I'm hoping I can boil at least one more time and make some amber.

I just noticed that my sap in the barrels has gotten cloudy already.. must be getting close.. I bet the first few days of this coming week will mark the end of it for me... sap in the few buckets I have is still nice and clear..

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Originally Posted by paulslund

I just noticed that my sap in the barrels has gotten cloudy already.. must be getting close.. I bet the first few days of this coming week will mark the end of it for me... sap in the few buckets I have is still nice and clear..

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Wait whut, sap cloudy already? Have you tried boiling some on its own to see if it smells like boiling swamp water yet? You're only about 50km away from me, sap still clear and running fine out here though frozen atm...thank gawd lol. And thanks for the formula you sent, I think after a couple more coffees I might be able to understand it.

Good day to boil today taps slow yesterday. Have 60G sap to catch up on. Thinking maybe one more week for my season. Hope everyone is doing well

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Originally Posted by Galena

Wait whut, sap cloudy already? Have you tried boiling some on its own to see if it smells like boiling swamp water yet? You're only about 50km away from me, sap still clear and running fine out here though frozen atm...thank gawd lol. And thanks for the formula you sent, I think after a couple more coffees I might be able to understand it.

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I haven't boiled any of it yet but it should be fine... I'll be more concerned about next week's sap.. The silvers always tend to look like they are budding during saping season (they start budding in the fall actually) but they are starting to look bigger than normal..guessing the February thaws helped that along.

Actually.. I'm going to put a small pot on the stove now and see how it goes.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Galena

Wait whut, sap cloudy already? Have you tried boiling some on its own to see if it smells like boiling swamp water yet? You're only about 50km away from me, sap still clear and running fine out here though frozen atm...thank gawd lol. And thanks for the formula you sent, I think after a couple more coffees I might be able to understand it.

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Susan,ours has been cloudy for sometime now,figuring the end is quite near

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Originally Posted by Bruce L

Susan,ours has been cloudy for sometime now,figuring the end is quite near

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Yikes....well mine is still crystal clear and producing great syrup. If memory serves your bushes start to produce 2 weeks to 1 month before mine.

I only get cloudy sap in the last week or so and follow my own advice, and carefully boil a small amount from each tree. If I smell something like boiling frog bums, I chuck it and strike that tree from the list.

I still have perfectly good samples from last year's season sittin in my fridge, ready to trot over to you for a tasting session!

ETA: wish I had some silvers or Freemans to play around with. And I am planning on buying some syrup from a friend who has an all-reds bush, curious to see if there are any taste or colour diffs to my all-sugars.

So far so good on the boiling pot.. The cold sap is starting to have a "funny" smell, but I've had that before and still get great syrup... I also just burned a small spoonful on the stove and it smells perfect and sweet.

About 450L to get through tomorrow.. going to be an early morning and a late evening! :D