The sap was rising strongly yesterday, and pouring from a cut birch stump. It will do this for a couple of weeks. At this time of year the tree is preparing for its return to growth so it's turning stored energy into sugars and transporting them to where they are needed in the branches.Birch sap is quite strong in sugar, like sugar maple but only a tenth or less of the strength. Not so good for syrup (although it has been boiled down for this) but it is traditionally gathered for use in making birch sap wine.
So now it's time to tap into the trees and gather some birch sap. I use a short lenght of plastic tube, a brace and bit and a demi-john.
The drill needs only to go though the bark and into the first layer of sapwood, just enough to plug in the hose. If the sap is running in the tree it will appear very quickly and start to drip rapidly from the tube.
Leave overnight and collect the sap in the morning, when its running strongly you can gather a gallon overnight.Taking only a gallon (or maybe two from a very large tree) will not harm the tree and after use the hole needs to be plugged to prevent infections from entering the tree.
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Been meaning to try this for years, so thanks for the timely reminder and clear instructions. Hope you will also be able to show the next steps - how to turn the jar of sap into country wine.
Boil it, add sugar and yeast (extra high alcohol tolerant is good) and ferment. Can be like rocket fuel if you're patient !
Yes I plan to show the next steps, complete with my mistakes. Good that Robin has put in one sentance what will probably take me pages - but as an ex-rocket scientist I now feel fully qualified to take on the subject.
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