Tapping your trees

Tapping your trees

There are many more trees than maple that can be “tapped” for sweet liquids.

You’ll have to figure that out for where you live. This process may take more than one year, too. It mostly depends on the tree type (or types) you are experimenting with.  I always assumed sweet gum got its name for a reason that had to do with sweet sap, but don’t really know for sure.

Here’s one link on tapping trees and processing the collected sap at your home: http://www.tapmytrees.com/

And you can do many things with the sap you collect. For example, the obvious one is to make a syrup to eat. But at higher “boil off” ratios you can make a health drink, for example. Or add yeast and make an alcoholic brew made from your collected sap(s).  Your imagination and ingenuity provides a good start point during any hard times.  And boiling the sap usually kills any bacteria or viruses in the sap.

Now keep shelf life times in mind, too. Depending on your situation, some of the products one might make may be seasonal in consumption, like consume within three months is one example that comes to me mind. As to shelf lifetimes, if necessary use the smell and sight tests for the product. Otherwise, look it up and read about it; and even store it frozen or refrigerated as you might be able to do.