The Conservative Cave

Interests => Around the House & In the Garage => Topic started by: compaqxp on March 18, 2011, 03:12:42 AM

Title: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: compaqxp on March 18, 2011, 03:12:42 AM
And I need a new method of doing it. For years I've been boiling tree sap on several hot plates in my garage but I'm tired of this less the adequate, time/energy consuming way.

I know some guys who do theirs outside over this fire pit type thing and was thinking of trying something smiler to theirs.

What methods to you guys use/have used to do this before? I'm open to any and all ideas.
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: JohnnyReb on March 18, 2011, 05:25:19 AM
Shit! I thought for sure Nadin was telling folks on the left coast to boil water to get the radiation out.
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: catsmtrods on March 18, 2011, 05:39:00 AM
First I use maple and birch sap not pine pitch like you Canadains! :rotf:
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: franksolich on March 18, 2011, 07:28:26 AM
Why not just buy syrup at the grocery store?

This way, you wouldn't mess up the garage.
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: IassaFTots on March 18, 2011, 10:11:31 AM
My cousin up in Maine told me she just tapped her trees.  I will ask her for you Compaq.  I am hoping she will send me some.   O-)
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: vesta111 on March 18, 2011, 11:48:27 AM
My cousin up in Maine told me she just tapped her trees.  I will ask her for you Compaq.  I am hoping she will send me some.   O-)

Seen this done, first bore hole in maple tree and screw in a open pipe and hang a bucket from it.

Wait a few months then go out and collect the sap in the buckets.

Bring home and in a shed have a cast iron stove heated to red hot.

Place huge cast iron pots on the stove and fill with the sap.

Allow the sap to boil down, get a big ladle.

Take everyone outside into a fresh snow drift and pour the fillings of the ladle onto the snow

Believe me there is nothing in this world better then the taste of this as it hardens in but a minute.
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: Evil_Conservative on March 18, 2011, 02:55:34 PM
My cousin up in Maine told me she just tapped her trees.  I will ask her for you Compaq.  I am hoping she will send me some.   O-)

Does she sell her syrup?

I wish we could make our own syrup, but not sure when our trees produce sap.  And to be honest, I don't remember much sap in this area.  Just a bunch of pollen all over our parking lot and cars.  When I lived in Wisconsin, my car used to get covered in that sticky mess. 
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: IassaFTots on March 18, 2011, 03:36:23 PM
Does she sell her syrup?

I wish we could make our own syrup, but not sure when our trees produce sap.  And to be honest, I don't remember much sap in this area.  Just a bunch of pollen all over our parking lot and cars.  When I lived in Wisconsin, my car used to get covered in that sticky mess. 

Nope, she just gets enough for the family.  Unfortunately she has a LOT up there, and by the time she's given it out up there, none for me. 
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: franksolich on March 18, 2011, 04:30:13 PM
By the way, I'm curious about something.

I always thought bleeding trees for maple syrup was strictly a New Hampshire-Vermont thing.

What's this with a Canadian doing it too?
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: IassaFTots on March 18, 2011, 09:11:47 PM
By the way, I'm curious about something.

I always thought bleeding trees for maple syrup was strictly a New Hampshire-Vermont thing.

What's this with a Canadian doing it too?

Frank, I have some really great syrup that is Canadian.  Trees don't know boundaries.  Some of them slip right over the border. 
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: franksolich on March 18, 2011, 09:40:23 PM
Frank, I have some really great syrup that is Canadian.  Trees don't know boundaries.  Some of them slip right over the border. 

Well, next thing I'm going to learn, I guess, is that Canadians indulge in cow-tipping too.
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: IassaFTots on March 18, 2011, 09:41:38 PM
Well, next thing I'm going to learn, I guess, is that Canadians indulge in cow-tipping too.

I don't think they are cool enough for that, Frank.   :)
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: Mike B the Cajun on April 12, 2011, 09:49:18 AM
When I  read the title of the thread, I thought she was talking about crawfish... :whistling:
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: IassaFTots on April 12, 2011, 09:58:38 AM
When I  read the title of the thread, I thought she was talking about crawfish... :whistling:

Something on your mind???
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: CG6468 on April 12, 2011, 12:03:49 PM
By the way, I'm curious about something.

I always thought bleeding trees for maple syrup was strictly a New Hampshire-Vermont thing.

What's this with a Canadian doing it too?

BY wife's brother's BIL has a big maple syrup business in New York State. It's also big in Michigan, with some in Illinois, too.
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: Ballygrl on April 12, 2011, 01:00:06 PM
Why not just buy syrup at the grocery store?

This way, you wouldn't mess up the garage.

:lmao:

:cheersmate:
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: Ballygrl on April 12, 2011, 01:03:47 PM
When I  read the title of the thread, I thought she was talking about crawfish... :whistling:

compaq is a female? I thought compaq was a he.
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: compaqxp on April 12, 2011, 04:27:24 PM
compaq is a female? I thought compaq was a he.

I am most definitely male.

Anyways everything turned out good and I got more then I expected this year.

Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: Ballygrl on April 12, 2011, 04:41:17 PM
I am most definitely male.

Anyways everything turned out good and I got more then I expected this year.

OK, glad to hear it!
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: IassaFTots on April 13, 2011, 09:10:15 PM
I am most definitely male.

Anyways everything turned out good and I got more then I expected this year.



Do ya ship?
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: Chris_ on April 29, 2011, 02:31:10 AM
How about a turkey fryer? Big pot, Propane and propane accessories...
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: Mike B the Cajun on April 29, 2011, 11:17:14 AM
InRe: compaqxp....    OOPSIES!!!

How about a turkey fryer? Big pot, Propane and propane accessories...

How 'bout an oil-less turkey fryer??  ($99 at Home Depot)
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: vesta111 on April 30, 2011, 03:25:12 PM
InRe: compaqxp....    OOPSIES!!!

How 'bout an oil-less turkey fryer??  ($99 at Home Depot)

You need Cast iron for the best flavor, lots of wood for the cooking stove, this is an art and the best is the old fashioned way. It takes time to boil the sap down and an experienced eye to know when to eye ball the syrup when it is is done to perfection.  Sort of like making candy the old fashion way with no thermometers --the ball test in cold water.

This year I hear there is a bumper crop of the syrup, prices may be low so stock up and find ways to use it in recipies that call for sweetner.  Pure, no additives and just one step down from natures gift of Honey.

Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: BattleHymn on April 30, 2011, 03:51:44 PM
By the way, I'm curious about something.

I always thought bleeding trees for maple syrup was strictly a New Hampshire-Vermont thing.

What's this with a Canadian doing it too?

I know of a few maple syrup operations here in MO.  Anywhere you have a sugar maple tree, you can have syrup. 
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: vesta111 on April 30, 2011, 03:59:46 PM
I know of a few maple syrup operations here in MO.  Anywhere you have a sugar maple tree, you can have syrup. 

What kind of tree is a non-sugar maple tree?????
Title: Re: It's time for the boiling to begin!
Post by: BattleHymn on April 30, 2011, 04:10:22 PM
What kind of tree is a non-sugar maple tree?????

There are different species of maple trees.  It is my understanding that you can get syrup out of most of them, but it isn't as good as sugar maple syrup.  Where I am at, I have silver maples, and norway maples.