Can you mix Maple and Birch sap ?

[TerryEspo]

Hi Tim:

Not for sale, for sure.

It could have a catchy name though,,,,,"M-irch" or maybe "B-aple",,,,"Braple"...or better yet when it would be made,,,,"Ma-rch" Bet that name would be confusing in these forums,,,lol.

Still wonder if anyone has tried to make it?

Thanks.

Terry

[Jmsmithy]

I've been considering tapping my birch trees and have been researching it on this site and elsewhere. BC Birch Tapper does mention it in one of his posts as unique and that, if you wanted to use birch syrup on pancakes, would almost be a necessity due to the strong favors in the birch...

[DrTimPerkins]

It could have a catchy name though,,,,,"M-irch" or maybe "B-aple",,,,"Braple"...or better yet when it would be made,,,,"Ma-rch"

I like "Bir-ple"

Now you know why I don't do marketing research.

[happy thoughts]

I like "Bir-ple"

No you know why I don't do marketing research.

Birple! I LIKE it!

[wildlifewarrior]

I like "Bir-ple"

No you know why I don't do marketing research.

But now the word "purple" would rhyme with something!


I follow a guys blog who makes birch wine with the sap in the spring.

Mike

[FunnyFarm]

I was thinking of starting a thread to ask a question but this thread is likely a good place to ask...Anyhow I've been considering tapping the birch trees that grow amongst my already tapped maples.
I'm not considering mixing them but my thought was to run them into the same mainline as my maples throw shut offs on all branches and simply shut off my maples tap and turn on the birch lines...Obviously clean up after maple season and do a few weeks of birch sap...Any reason this won't work?

[BC Birch Tapper]

It should be fine to tap birch trees after maple & even to mix both saps together. Typically birch will run after maples although there may be a slight bit of overlap on any given year. The only way to do so on any scale would be to freeze maple sap until the birch starts to flow which sounds like alot of work. We sell a birch syrup production manual & have been selling quite a few to maple producers in recent years that also have birch trees. If you've got the equiptment & trees & a fuel source then why not give it a try.
The two trees are as different as night & day. You use the same equiptment however that is where the similarities end.
Some producers do make blends but as already noted it cannot be sold as a pure product. We do a 75% maple 25% birch blend which sells quite well. The birch is quite bold so the small % makes it a moderate product for folks that have little experience in the birch world.
Many folks in Europe & north america drink the sap as a health tonic. We call it nature's gaterade, & use it for lots of things including just a refreshing drink with a bit of nutrients & a touch of sugar.

One key point is it is extremely difficult to make pure birch syrup on an evaporator. It is a different tree, different sugars & a different end use. We take our concentrate off our evaporator at about 25 to 30 deg brix & finish on a double boiler or on a very low heat to avoid scorching. Otherwise you will end up with a very unpalatable end product.

[FunnyFarm]

Thanks for the reply.Sounds like my plan then. Even if it cuts my maple season a week or so short Birch syrup sells for a bundle more...

[Shirefisher]

I cooked down a pint or so of syrup made from a combo of maple and birch last year on a turkey fryer while the trees are running at the same time. Tomorrow I'm going to boil down 40 gallons or so of maple and birch together and see how it comes out. The Maple should be mostly done and I'll clean the pans and just boil some birch and finish on a heat controlled electric cooker.