The sooner we remove the spouts, the longer the tree has to heal up the tap hole wound. After our last boil, we return to the woods and pull out our spouts. So, we don’t leave our taps in the trees until the following year. We’re also required to remove our spouts promptly after the season. ![]() It’s not allowed under organic certification because it is generally harder on the trees. They would cut a gash in the tree and collect the sap in containers made of tree bark. Some producers might re-ream the hole mid-season if they feel like the tap holes are healing up or ‘drying out’. Native Americans taught the European settlers how to make maple syrup. We move taps annually around the trunk of the tree to avoid hitting the damage of old tap holes. Consequently, we don’t tap the same hole more than once. This creates non-conductive wood or xylem, essentially scar tissue where no liquid and gas can travel through. ![]() Throughout the spring, the maple tree will wall off or compartmentalize the area around the taphole. It's a process that likely evolved as a defense mechanism to protect the tree from wounds and infection. Maple trees have the ability to ‘compartmentalize’ damage. We need to drill a fresh hole every year because throughout the season the trees will essentially heal over the wounds we’ve drilled. Tapping marks the beginning of the maple season. Some have hooks to hang buckets from or barbs to attach to tubing systems.Įvery year we have to tap our trees with a fresh tap hole and every year we ‘pull’ or remove the spouts at the end of the season. Some come in two pieces or have a one way directional check valves within the design. Our work continues throughout the year to keep our. They can be purchased in different colors or molded at different angles. Maple Syrup is made in the springtime when the sap begins to flow from the trees as the weather gets warmer. Originally made from wood, modern taps are now commonly made from nylon or polycarbonate or metal. These ‘spouts’, ‘taps’, or ‘spiles’ have a variety of names and designs. Once a hole is properly drilled, we take a spout and gently hammer or tap it into the taphole until it is seated. While you can use a common wood drill bit, many sugarmakers have specialized drill bits that are designed to pull out wood shavings from the hole. Maple sap is collected in early spring as the fluctuation between freezing and warmer temperatures creates the necessary pressure. The diameter of the holes can range from 1/4 inch to 7/16ths. The holes are drilled nearly 2 inches deep into the xylem of the tree, a layer behind the bark. For best results, let these bars cool completely before slicing. Pour filling on top of crust and bake until the center is barely firm when gently shaken, about 35 minutes. Add flour, alternating with the half and half and mix until smooth. In short, we drill a hole into the trunk of a maple tree and then we hammer a small spout into the hole until it is set. Use an electric mixer to combine butter and sugar, then add egg and maple syrup. ![]() Tapping a maple tree is the primary process we use to gather sap.
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