Originally Posted by
GiffordHillGold
Hello everyone,
This year about half of my three gallon yield tastes musty. My grandfather thinks it might be because I washed the cone filter with 3year old baking soda. No matter the cause, has anyone had success removing off flavors through reboiling? Perhaps reboil plus filter-aid? Let me know your thoughts and ideas I am so bummed out over this mistake.
Thanks as always.
Oh **** than sucks. I know that are certain specific products used for the washing of (felt?) cone filters which won't leave residue. I have a very small operation and do not use cone filters as they basically eat syrup. And with my sugaring stuff, pots, evaporating pans etc I never use any kind of cleaning compound - straight hot water and air dry is all.
Baking soda, used anywhere in any appliocation, WILL leave residue, so you have to rinse repeatedly - like 4-5 times, very thoroughly, to make sure you get it all out. If the baking soda was absorbing flavours and odours from a fridge or some other place, well then you've imbued your syrup with those flavours too.
I don't think reboiling will do any good at this stage, I've never seen anyone post about having done so successfully. Hate to say it but your best option is to dump that syrup and never, ever EVER use baking soda to clean your filters again! Boil them in clean water (spend a few bucks and buy a big jug of distilled water), let them air dry. Good luck!
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