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How to Tap Maples to Drink the Sap

Jan 17, 2025 | Cooking with Maple, DIY Maple Syrup

Although, traditionally, sap is boiled down to make maple syrup, you can also enjoy the magic of maple without making syrup. Sap collected from maple trees makes a delicious, slightly sweet beverage whether consumed hot or cold. You can even use it instead of water as a basis for making tea or coffee, or carbonate with a countertop soda stream machine! Sound tempting? Here’s how to tap maples to drink the sap!

Identify a Maple Tree

To collect sap to drink, follow these steps for identifying a maple tree.

It is easier to identify maples in spring, summer and fall, when the leaves are present. Identifying maples in wintertime is tricky but not impossible. The key is to familiarize yourself with what the bark looks like, and then ensure that the branches are opposing. You can read all about identifying maples from the bark and branches here. In the winter, when we think we’re looking at a maple from its familiar grey, shaggy bark and opposing branches, we like to dig around the base of the tree and look for last year’s leaves. Importantly, a tree needs to be 10″ in diameter at chest height to be mature enough to tap. So bring a ruler into the woods with you!

Tap the Tree

Now, tap your tree.

It is best to tap your maple tree when the nighttime temperatures are freezing and daytime temperatures are not, because this is when the sap will be running. Therefore, the time of year that you tap your maple trees will depend on where you live. For more detail about when to tap, you can go here.

To tap, you need:

  • A drill with 7/16” or 5/16” bit
  • Hammer
  • 7/16” or 5/16” spiles
  • Lidded buckets or other closed containers

When choosing a height for drilling a hole, choose a height that is both convenient for drilling and collecting. It is important to keep in mind the current depth of the snow: is the collector going to have to reach over their head when the snow melts? For best results, choose a spot to dril lthat is either below a big branch, or above a big root, and not near any knots or wounds in the tree. Additionally, make sure to drill at least 6” away from the prior year’s tap.
Once you have chosen your spot, drill a hole of about 1 ½” deep at a slight upwards angle, and look for light, creamy wood chips and sawdust. If what you see is dark or dead, pick a new spot!
Gently tap your spile into the hole with the hammer, and hang your closed container up to collect the sap. For more detail on how to tap trees, you can go here.

Collect Sap Daily

We recommend daily sap collection in order to keep your sap cool and fresh. This ensures that the sap is not being left at elevated temperatures (such as a metal bucket in the sun) for extended periods of time. Additionally, when storing your sap, try and make sure it is kept out of the sun! Sap can be stored for a week to 10 days using “natural refrigerators” such as snowbanks, shallow streams, or cold spaces in garages and barns. When storing your sap, the most important thing is that it is stored in a container manufactured for food storage. If you do not yet have a storage container, check out our Food Grade 5 Gallon Sap Storage Buckets with Lids!

Filter and Sterilize Sap

Finding twigs or bugs in your sap is normal! Use cheescloth or the equivalent to filter your sap at the point of collection. Don’t worry! Whether or not you plan to make syrup, boiling the sap will be a step in the process, leaving you with a safe and tasty treat.

Great! Now you have your sap and are ready to do something with it.  Using the sap as-is in drinks or other recipes is  delicious, and the preparation requires less work than boiling it down to syrup. Here are the recommended steps for preparing your sap!

Filter the sap through a piece of cheesecloth or a wire mesh strainer (we recommend our Sap Strainer) into a deep pot on your stove. Bring to a rolling boil and boil your sap for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes). Allow to cool before using.*

Sap will store in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks!

*Many people drink sap without first boiling it. Out of caution, however, these instructions are based on the CDC’s instructions for safe use of water found outdoors while hiking or camping or when travelling to places with unknown water quality.

Drink Your Sap and Eat it Too!

Interested in using sap? Here are some starter recipes!

Sap Seltzer and Soda:

This is a delicious way to incorporate sap, and it’s very easy! The only things you need are maple sap and a countertop soda stream machine, which are relatively inexpensive. Substitute the sap for water to create a lightly flavored carbonated beverage and serve on ice!

If you don’t have access to maple sap but still want to try out sap seltzer, there are a few companies such as Sap!, Vermont Sweetwater Bottling Co., and Sapsucker that make delicious sap beverages.

Maple Coffee or Tea:

You can also substitute maple sap for the water in your coffee or tea! Simply replace the water in your teakettle or your coffee maker with sap. A light maple flavor will result, without being too sweet!

Maple Sap in Bread:

Maple sap is slightly different to water, as it has 2% sugar. This results in it behaving a little differently than water when baking.

For bread, start with adding ¾ the amount of water in the recipe (except add sap instead). Then, you can continue adding the rest of the sap until the consistency is just right! The rest of the process can be followed as normal. We haven’t personally tried this recipe yet, so if you decide to experiment, let us know how it went and send us a picture!

Oatmeal:

This is also a simple yet delicious recipe! In your morning oatmeal, replace the water with sap before you heat it up for a little sweetness. Add cinnamon or nutmeg for a little extra flavor.

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