Got batch #6 of syrup done yesterday, 3l of nice really clear red syrup. Boiling down what I got yesterday (16l), a little concerned that the sap is starting to get cloudy and as it was evaporating, definitely stringy when being skimmed and transferred to a faster pot. I know there are threads here already on ropey sap so I'll dig em up. I just don't want to dump sap!
And still got another 20l today, but not going to get to it tonight. So yep my total sap collection *crossed fingers* is 400l. New record by far! Now, if it's all good when I boil it into batch #7, I'll be so happy.
My trees on tap STILL not budding, though glad to see #7 started to bud out yesterday. Some spiles definitely drying and slowing up, but my best tree (gave me 9l today) still chugging clear sap. I smell and taste the sap from each spile to ensure that it's still good.
Been tapping since 2008.
2018 - 17 taps/7 trees...819l sap, approx 28l syrup
2019 - 18 taps/8 trees...585l sap, 28l syrup...21:1 ratio
2020 - 18 taps/8 trees...890.04l sap...gave away about 170l, 30l snafu'd....23l total for me from approx 690l
2021 - 18 taps/8 trees...395l sap, 12 l syrup
2022 - 18 taps/8 trees....7 sugars 1 red due to #2 having surgery so had the season off....582l sap, 18.5l syrup
2023 - 18 taps/8 trees...all sugars again. 807l sap, so far approx 14l syrup