Content

• Method 2 of 3: Boil the maple syrup
• Method 3 of 3: Using Maple Syrup
• Tips
• Warnings

1 Find a maple tree. The most important step in the tree punching process is finding the right tree. Look for a maple tree that is at least 30 cm in diameter and has the most sunlight.

• Sugar maples and black maples provide the most juice. Red and silver maples also produce sap, but not as much as the previous two species.
• Avoid sick trees that have been damaged previously. They will not yield as much sap as a healthy, strong and large tree can.
• You can punch the tree from multiple sides as long as it is large and healthy enough. One outlet tube can be inserted into a tree 30-50 cm in diameter. Two outlet tubes can be inserted into a tree 51-67 cm in diameter. If the tree is 70 cm in diameter, three outlet tubes can be inserted into it.
• Trees with large crowns - branches and leaves - tend to produce more sap than those with smaller crowns.

2 Find out when to punch a tree. The best time to punch through wood depends on your location. But it usually ranges from mid-February to mid-March. Temperatures should be above freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day and drop below freezing at night.

• The fluctuation in temperature causes the sap to flow, moving it from the tree trunk to branches and roots underground.
• The sap will flow for about 4-8 weeks, but this depends on the health of the tree and the environment.
• As a rule, the best juice is harvested at the beginning of the season.

3 Prepare your tools. You need to take a bucket with a lid (so that nothing gets into it), an outlet pipe and a drill. You can also use a large, clean dry bin or similar container to use to store the collected juice.

• Thoroughly wash the outlet tubing and bucket with bleach and water. Make sure the tools are completely dry before use.
• For a drill, you will need a 7/16 or 5/16 drill bit.

4 Decide where to punch. Find the perfect spot in the tree. It should be a comfortable place within reach and in healthy wood. Tap on the side of the tree that gets more sunlight during the day, ideally on the south side.

• If possible, it is better to hook it over a large root or under a large branch.
• If the tree you are planting has already been punched before, the new hole should be at least 15 cm from the old one.
• Insert the tap into a healthy section of the tree. If you are drilling and the shavings are light brown or bronze, then the tree is healthy. Or, if the shavings are dark brown or chocolate colored, find another place to drill.
• Drill on a sunny day when it's warm outside to minimize wood splitting.

5 Drill a hole. Take the drill at an upward angle to help the juice flow out more easily. Drill a hole about 7 cm deep.

• In order not to be mistaken with the depth, wrap the drill with electrical tape 7 cm from the end of the drill in advance.
• Use a sharp drill to make the hole straight. Less juice will come out of the uneven hole.
• When finished, remove all sawdust from the hole.

6 Insert the outlet tube into the tree. Drive in securely and secure with a rubber mallet or hammer so that it cannot be pulled out by hand.

• Do not drive in the outlet tube too hard, or you risk splitting the wood.
• If you don’t want to buy an outlet tubing, make your own using ⅜ ”aluminum tubing. Don't use copper because it is toxic to wood. Extend one end to use it as an outlet to drain the juice into the bucket.

7 Hang up the bucket. Attach it to the end of the outlet tube or tie it with a piece of wire to the neck.

• The bucket must be securely fastened so that the wind does not knock or rip it off.
• Place a lid on top to prevent dirt from entering the juice container.

8 Wait for the juice to collect. Collect it daily at lunchtime when it's still warm outside. If the weather is fine, you should be able to harvest the juice in a little over one month.

• A healthy tree can produce 45-360 liters of sap, depending on environmental conditions.
• The juice stops flowing if the daytime temperature does not rise above zero, and the nighttime temperature does not drop below zero, which makes it too warm.
• Empty all the juice into a large container, such as an empty (clean) dry bin. Otherwise, you will have a lot of full buckets taking up space.
• If the temperature rises above 34 degrees Celsius, the juice should be kept in the refrigerator. Otherwise, it will deteriorate, and bacteria will begin to multiply in it.

Method 2 of 3: Boil the maple syrup

1. 1 Prepare all supplies. You will need a large saucepan and an outdoor gas stove or wood-burning stove. You also need a cloth filter for syrup and storage containers. Do not brew the juice indoors as it gives off a tremendous amount of steam.
   • An air dehumidifier can be used to reduce the amount of steam produced, which allows you to brew the juice indoors.
   • A candy or syrup thermometer comes in handy when bringing juice to the ideal temperature.
   • Using a wood-burning stove produces the best maple syrup because it infuses the sap with a rich smoky aroma.
2. 2 Boil the juice. Pour the juice up to a level of 29 cm so that it does not burn. Be prepared for the juice to boil very quickly and give off a lot of steam.
   • When the juice thickens, add more so that it remains at the level of 29 cm. You can add either cold juice or pre-warmed juice to the boiling syrup.
   • Boil the juice until it reaches 105 degrees Celsius. This will give you pure maple syrup. If you want to make maple caramel, boil the juice until it reaches 110 degrees Celsius.
3. 3 Filter the syrup. Use a cloth filter, available online, to separate the granulated sugar that forms during the boiling process. Filter the syrup while hot, between 83-93 degrees Celsius.
   • Warm up the filter cloth in hot water for a few minutes before use. This will filter the syrup better and kill any bacteria on the filter.
   • Pour the syrup into a covered container before filtering to keep it warm.
   • If the syrup cools quickly, heat it to a temperature between 83-93 degrees Celsius. Do not overheat the juice to avoid burning it.
   • If the syrup passes quickly through the filter, the filter is damaged and needs to be replaced. The juice should "flow slowly" and not pour out in a stream.
4. 4 After opening the container, store it in the refrigerator to extend the life of the syrup. Use in recipes and products for a delicious maple scent

Method 3 of 3: Using Maple Syrup

1. 1 Make syrupy caramels. This is the most basic recipe using maple syrup. Bring the syrup to a high temperature to caramelize. This mass can be poured into molds and cooled. The result is yummy with a maple flavor.
2. 2 Try maple frosting. Frozen frosting is a great addition to any cake or cupcake and is very easy to make. Combine maple syrup with brown sugar, vanilla, butter, and powdered sugar for a quick and easy frosting.
3. 3 Make maple rice pudding. Rice pudding is a sweet and spicy dessert dish made with white rice and cream. Add maple syrup and cinnamon for the perfect fall meal.
4. 4 Heat up a cup of hot maple chocolate. Use the excellent hot chocolate recipe, add a few teaspoons of maple syrup and stir. This recipe is perfect for cold nights when it's snowy and cold outside.
5. 5 Try maple walnut fudge. Combine the flavors of walnuts and maple syrup with expensive chocolate to create a fudge your friends will be asking for a recipe! Try this easy maple walnut fudge recipe.

Tips

• Keep in mind that maple produces 1/40 of its sap.
• If the tree is 40 cm in diameter and you want more syrup, you can punch the tree from opposite sides. Make sure the holes face east and west, however, because the north side will yield less juice.

Warnings

• If you are punching a tree less than 25 cm in diameter or younger than 30 years old, there is the possibility of stunted growth. You can even accidentally destroy a tree.
• Never leave boiling syrup unattended.
• Watch the syrup while boiling so that it does not boil over or burn.