What trees can you tap for syrup?

[@FidelCashflow13]

There is no videos like this on KZbin. To be honest I'm just looking for all trees I can tap for the slightly sweet water and not syrup. I appreciate you doing this!

[@MichelleVisser]

I'm glad it's helpful for you; it's something I love talking about for sure. And drinking the sap is so good for you and refreshing too.

[@GuitarUniverse2013]

I just reviewed your website and it’s amazing! Seriously, it’s the most comprehensive set of offerings I’ve ever seen on a homegrown website… Who made your website? Who designed it? Did you do it? Because if you did, you’re even more amazing… Congratulations!

[@MichelleVisser]

very sweet... yes, it's all my baby, beauty, great info, mess, and all :)

[@Honkykong19]

I wonder a lot about hack berry and beech . Both those trees drop sticky sticky sap heavily early fall

[@imari2305]

I knew about Maple and Birch but didn't know about Sycamore, Sweetgum and Walnut. I learned something new today.

[@MichelleVisser]

Yay! I always love hearing that! :)

[@AdventuresontheHomestead]

What a great video and super informative! Thanks to your video, we will be tapping our first non-maple trees this week! Excited to tap our black walnuts!

[@MichelleVisser]

That's SOOOO exciting! It gets me giggly excited to know I helped someone enter the world of sugarmaking! It's MAGICAL. ❤️

[@teresecox4109]

Hi, i just purchased your book on Amazon. So happy I found your video today. I’m learning as much as possible for my first maple tapping this winter. Wasn’t expecting to learn about your method for memorizing things! I often do exactly the same, so your example was perfect!

[@SerenityHillFarmstead]

We’re tapping our walnut grove this year for the first time. Excited to watch your channel and learn more.

[@MichelleVisser]

Very exciting!!! I hear walnut syrup is really yummy! Keep me posted!

[@allisonvang6067]

How long does it take to tap?

[@SerenityHillFarmstead]

@@allisonvang6067 do set up the taps? Took an hour because the kids were helping. To collect sap? I pulled them after a couple weeks.

[@PiccoloMichelaChannel]

@@SerenityHillFarmstead how was it? Does the tree need to be big so that doesn’t get killed?

[@kingspal99]

sterilize all ur tools 😊 best to cut lower branch at an angle brfore the next knot it will drip just as good if tree get disease from ur tap hole it will die sterilize all ur tools 😊 best to cut lower branch at an angle brfore the next knot it will drip just as good if tree get disease from ur tap hole it will die just putting a hammered pcs of wood in hole will not protect tree

[@pelin5306]

awesome!!! I'm soooooooo grateful that you shared this video!! I have been searching for two and a half years on how I could possibly find a natural source of sugar on my land!!. this is perfect! I have hundreds of years old Sycamore's on my land which I am now planning to tap after watching your video. I just can't tell you how pleased I am!! I wouldn't have been this happy if I had found gold!! God bless you girl !!!

[@MichelleVisser]

wow!! I'm so glad I could make you so happy! Did you have any luck tapping this year?

[@johnhancock7746]

Thank you for sharing!!!! I had no idea that other trees produce syrup beyond the maple

[@MichelleVisser]

It's fascinating, isn't it!!??

[@countrieboyz2009]

I was hoping to hear something about oak, because that's all we have around here. Which the sugaring season here in the triad of NC is short to none.

[@renemardis9779]

Too high in tannins, doesn't make good syrup and can cause toxicity in high concentration......which syrup is a highly concentrated product. Some people use it sparingly with no problem.

[@stevenquick4315]

I bought taps for my walnut trees but I’ll probably wait until next year. and my maple trees, and Dads Sycamore. I’ll send a couple home with you for your Sweetgum tree for next spring if you want to try too.

[@jeffg4686]

@3:06 - there's the sponsor (banks). They jump out at you after watching enough youtube videos. I'm not blaming or anything. Grapevines hold a lot of water (for survival not syrup)_. They grow in at least some parts of the US

[@MichelleVisser]

This video doesn't have a sponsor, but youtube does add in ads. And yes, grapevines can help for survival, for sure.

[@oliverbereczki3003]

I wish, I knew more people, like you. I would love to sit down with you and have a conversation about life, the universe, and everything. You radiate positivity!!! Your smile is what this world is lacking 😊

[@MichelleVisser]

well gosh, I know I'm not all THAT but thank you :)

[@almostoily7541]

If walnut family trees have natural pectin, could you make fruit preserves with it if you don't mind the flavor? Or is it not like the pectin from apple and citrus that thickens preserves? We have black walnut and pecan trees.

[@cherokeecountry]

I have a 200 tree pecan orchard. I will try this on them and see what I get. Down in the bottom along my creek, I have about 50 paper birch. I'll try them as well.

[@MichelleVisser]

did you have success this sugar season?

[@Somebody-Somewhere-In-NY]

You Have kind eyes Michelle... I am a new subscriber Love the content... From Long Island New York.

[@MichelleVisser]

are you a sugarmaker?

[@sampedro9316]

Curious about the sweet gum cause it's one tree I have a lot of

[@CharleneMCox]

Please! I want to see MANY MORE videos like this! Also very interested in sweet water types of trees! I am in Indiana. Btw. Is there a way to make a sassafras tea without taking the root. I enjoy the tea but feel bad for cutting on the root and removing it! ☹️ Thank you!🖐

[@kingspal99]

sterilize all ur tools 😊 best to cut lower branch at an angle brfore the next knot it will drip just as good if tree get disease from ur tap hole it will die sterilize all ur tools 😊 best to cut lower branch at an angle brfore the next knot it will drip just as good if tree get disease from ur tap hole it will die just putting a hammered pcs of wood in hole will not protect tree

[@almostoily7541]

You can with new twigs and leaves but it doesn't taste the same to me. Do you know that the roots are reusable? You can boil them several times. Maybe that will help you feel better since you can reuse them 😊

[@NoOne-zm4rb]

I've heard you dont boil birch sap. Maybe that is where the bitterness comes from (I've only ever tapped maples, so i dont know).

[@mikebonom]

Great video. Can a Japanese maple be tapped? I've been searching and searching and can't find any information on it.

[@jamesvatter5729]

Learn something new every day. Thank you.

[@MichelleVisser]

life would be pretty boring if we didn't, right? :)

[@noahriding5780]

Sometimes it seems like some orchard fruit tree types have sap... its probably better to not waste it and to let it be turned into fruits. But I am curious if those in theory could be tapped for syrup? (Plum, cherry, apple, etc)

[@raulwhitefeather963]

All trees have sap. All hardwood sap contains sugars, but some are toxic or full of latex, etc. Any others that aren't poisonous or gooey can be drank or boiled down for syrup. Also, this same sap can be collected and used in any time of year except the depths of winter. The main difference between spring sap and summer sap is that the leaves add a grassy taste to the sap/syrup. Not very tasty, but edible in a survival type scenario.

[@noahriding5780]

@@raulwhitefeather963 Thank you. But I hadn't heard of people collecting it except in spring? Curious about that.

[@oliverbereczki3003]

You have a wealth of information and I really enjoy your contribution... Thank you 😊!

[@MichelleVisser]

So nice of you. And you're very welcome. :)

[@keyboard101101]

Very interesting! Also very informative channel.

[@MichelleVisser]

so glad you're here!

[@melissamybubbles6139]

The builder planted the neighborhood with some generic small maple. I doubt I'd get enough sap unless I could tap the whole neighborhood, but maybe I'll try just to get a teaspoon of syrup.

[@cblanchjr7538]

Fantastic video!!! EXTREMELY informative!!!

[@MichelleVisser]

glad you found it helpful. It's a subject I love talking about. :)

[@stefanandsheilawozniak8210]

Can you tap the sap of a narrow leaf ash?

[@georgeamesfort3408]

Can beech,not birch be tapped?

[@yourturnheirlooms9297]

Hi Michelle, After you get to the point of syrup, do you and if you do, how do you filter the syrup?

[@MichelleVisser]

Yes!! Filtering is imperative or your syrup is clouded with niter. There are many stages of filtering, starting with filtering the sap as you pour it into your boiling pan or evaporator, then we filter again when we bring it in to the kitchen stove for the final boil. Then we filter a final time as we're bottling it. This video gives you a technique that helps a lot: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qp63n36plLF6e5Y

[@patriciaedoley9501]

I love this video, so much information! Thanks!

[@MichelleVisser]

Glad it was helpful!

[@davidwhitlock5832]

Can you make syrup out of a pecan sap?

[@m4shey539]

Great information! Thank you!

[@MichelleVisser]

i love sharing this! :)

[@noahriding5780]

I would like to know if syrup tapped from syrup trees could be used in place of sugar water feed for honey Bees? Does anyone know this?

[@donnastumme1729]

They now know maple syrup has awesome allulose as its sweeter that actually counters diabetes

[@likes-yv3lj]

Berch Maple Walnut Sycamore Sweet gum

[@MichelleVisser]

Yep, driving a BMW while feeling sick & chewing gum :)

[@CharleneMCox]

Wow!! Great info! Thank you!!👍🏼😎❤️

[@MichelleVisser]

You bet!

[@stevenminnerly5336]

fantastic video

[@MichelleVisser]

glad you thought so, Steven. Thanks!

[@megatobias]

Thanks for the info! Also i was wondering, what breed of dog do you have (at 0:28 )?

[@MichelleVisser]

bixby is the BEST. He's a labradoodle. :)

[@jackgranger9291]

Can Maple trees in (middle) Georgia be utilized for tapping syrup ?

[@MichelleVisser]

If you have a dramatic weather change and tap at the ideal time it is possible. It will, of course, be a very short window, but you should be able to at least get some yummy sap to drink. Keep a close eye on the barometer.

[@calvinwaligora8312]

Was wondering if it is a good idea to try to tap Pine Trees to harvest the Sap or Pine Tar? Not for human consumption raw, but to give to my bees to make Propolis. Trying to avoid striping the bark method.

[@MichelleVisser]

i have no idea about this. did you find an answer?

[@Designer.Exotics]

Can you tap a willow tree?

[@MichelleVisser]

Not that I know of. Let me know your results if you do! :)

[@almostoily7541]

You would probably have a bitter result but I'm not sure. The willows cambium ( I think it's called) is the original source of aspirin. The leaves and twigs are used as rooting hormones and animal fodder when they are coppiced. I'm not sure about the sap, honestly, but you may need to go slow in trying it, especially if you are already on blood thinners. Now I'm curious about it 🤣

[@corrosivemolerat4900]

HI Michelle, i was wondering if you can tap any of these trees here in Australia. :)

[@MichelleVisser]

Yes! While you of course don't have ideal sugarmaking weather, if you ever have a dramatic change in weather that causes a crazy dip in the barometric pressure for a few days straight you may find you can successfully tap. If you try, keep me posted! :)

[@brendamunro4193]

Hi do you know what trees can be tapped in other parts of the world?

[@MichelleVisser]

my book (Sweet Maple) goes into that. In the end it all depends on weather fluctuations, temps, and tree varieties. The best bet is to find someone in your area who is successfully tapping a tree or two and chat with them.

[@ericmccann21]

How long do you tap from a tree? Do you alternate over a few years or so you let the tree rest x number of years

[@MichelleVisser]

No need to "rest" a tree. You just need to change the placement of your taps on the tree every year. It's best to go in a pattern of up and around the trees over the years.

[@danwolverton7783]

@@MichelleVisser Good video! We don’t have Maples up here in Alaska, but I do enjoy gathering Birch Water in the spring. It’s so good and refreshing. I grew up with the general rule of thumb about rotating trees and giving them 3-4 seasons before tapping the same ones again. But we have so many wild Birch Trees, it’s never been a problem lol!

[@MichelleVisser]

@@danwolverton7783 I have had some birch syrup (Dulcee of Alaska Wild Harvest generously sent me a bottle of it a few years ago). I have to say I wasn't a huge fan of it on my pancakes (but it is fabulous in baking and for marinades), so I imagine I would enjoy tapping birch for drinking the sap more than all the effort it takes to make birch syrup. Awesome that you can do that!

[@danepiper1]

How about Box Elder

[@MichelleVisser]

Yes! it's a species of maple. I talk about it a good bit in my book

[@MoizRehmanK]

Great video 👌😊

[@JAKASHA420]

I have a 200+ year old Golden Birch with a 5' base. Worth tapping?

[@MichelleVisser]

well I would say no tappable tree is NOT worth tapping... if for no other reason, the sap is so good for you to drink (add a little lemon for sapinade :) )

[@kimrahhenderson7446]

Thank you so much!

[@MichelleVisser]

my pleasure. Do you have some of the alternative trees you can tap??

[@kimrahhenderson7446]

@@MichelleVisser we have tons of silver and red maples. I have tapped willow before to make medicine and tinctures . Historical cold and snow here now. Can't get out!

[@MichelleVisser]

@@kimrahhenderson7446 Silver and Red make delicious syrup, I'm told. I've never had tinctures made with willow sap. Interesting! Stay warm!!

[@kimrahhenderson7446]

@@MichelleVisser I hear the red and silver make more ' sand' sediment inwhich there is more mineral content and people just eat it with a spoon or on toast for a little boost of goodness!

[@MichelleVisser]

@@kimrahhenderson7446 as long as you're using the right equipment to boil yes, use the niter. i use it in baking... kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYfFc5t-fKeYnNU

[@rhoadesfarms3900]

What about a shagbark hickory?

[@MichelleVisser]

i haven't met or ever chatted with someone who has done that. Have you?

[@rhoadesfarms3900]

@@MichelleVisser I have too many shagbarks on the property not to try. I know you can boil down the bark and that whole process but specifically tapping a shagbark I have no idea. Educating myself now for next year.

[@MichelleVisser]

@@rhoadesfarms3900 i love it!! please keep me posted!!

[@JoshAU44]

I wanted to do this so badly. But I live in North Florida & I'm afraid it may be impossible with the climate here. Is there any tree in my area that can be tapped? So far I haven't been able to find any answers. Would u mind offering a suggestion, or atleast confirm that it would be impossible where I live. Great video, tysm.

[@MichelleVisser]

Not impossible... but definitely only in a very small quantity and only if you have a drastic change in weather (like the barometer goes crazy). probably in December, that far south. You wouldn't get much sap, not enough to make syrup, but you very well may be able to get enough to enjoy a few glasses of the best tasting "water" known to man. :)

[@AloneWithMySaxophone]

I’ve read that palm trees can be tapped, hopefully that’s helpful

[@donnastumme1729]

But you can drink as a very healthy mineral enriched natural drink your birch sap rather than turning it into syrup

[@PiccoloMichelaChannel]

What do you mean with sycamore? Because I see that in English you call sycamore the acer pseudoplatanus, so you mean that? Because is in the same family of maple and ai wanted to try, as in my area, the alps, we don’t have the maple that you have. Please let me know.

[@MichelleVisser]

Yes! Acer pseudoplatanus. I've talked with a gentleman in Austria who has been tapping them successfully for years.

[@PiccoloMichelaChannel]

@@MichelleVisser looking forward to try

[@MichelleVisser]

@@PiccoloMichelaChannel keep me posted!

[@matthewmcdaniel8846]

My question is can you tap a native pecan tree I live in the south and we have an abundance of native pecan trees

[@MichelleVisser]

I've never met anyone who has tried, so if you do, please keep me posted!!

[@ffrost8353]

Since pecan trees and hickory trees are in the same family, it might be necessary to use the bark boiling method to extract syrup.

[@kdonsky6]

What about beech?

[@MichelleVisser]

yes, beech trees can be tapped, but you'll need a good vacuum system to extract the sap

[@durrty8]

You can just drink it if you cant find a clean water or have water a filter and your lost in the woods lol

[@granmabern5283]

For a couple weeks per year...at certain temperatures

[@MichelleVisser]

yep, I love drinking maple sap (even when I'm NOT lost in the woods :) )

[@Stella_Blaze]

How to identify these trees?

[@MichelleVisser]

Sweet Maple goes into great depth. terrific-cherry-777.myflodesk.com

[@darrellwolf1780]

I tried to tap Sycamore Trees back in early spring , but did not get a drop of syrup . I have been searching online for a solution ,but have found no useful information . Do you have any resources that may help ?

[@bethells86]

We have a few Sycamore too, be good to hear responses to your question.

[@daver5907]

Hi

[@pauldecker4027]

I’ll be tapping my big leaf maples for the first time this year

[@MichelleVisser]

so exciting!

[@MichelleVisser]

are you in the PNW?

[@pauldecker60]

​@MichelleVisser yes, I live on whidbey island. It will a group of us that will give it a try this year

[@MichelleVisser]

@@pauldecker60 oh that's awesome! It's always better with friends :)

[@trapper802]

And cherry

[@MichelleVisser]

have you tapped cherry trees?

[@haroldkrivell2524]

Birch water is good by itself. You don't need to make syrup from birch. People sell birch water by itself.

[@Designer.Exotics]

Is it expensive?

[@MichelleVisser]

very. both birch syrup and birch water are more expensive than maple syrup or maple water, primarily because it's more time consuming to harvest

[@MichelleVisser]

totally. And the syrup is great for marinating meats.

[@terrijuanette486]

THANK YOU!!

[@MichelleVisser]

I'm glad you found it helpful :)

[@thomasmurray496]

I know something I want to tap lol

[@meredithr9824]

Tapping trees seems easier than keeping bees.

[@MichelleVisser]

we are beekeepers as well as sugarmakers and there are many reasons you could prefer bees/honey ... not all-consuming for 6-8 weeks of the year; the joy of watching the bees; the huge benefit of pollination around our farm, and more, BUT yes overall maple is easier and less things to fail... beekeeping in new england is a huge challenge for sure.

[@ellenfrazer7581]

🌞🌞

[@riverrat7529]

What was I going to ask??

[@MichelleVisser]

:)

[@melodyscamman244]

👍👍❤️

[@number4cat1]

You wouldn't need a "pneumonic" device unless you were having breathing problems, so you must be referring to a "mnemonic" device to help you remember something.

[@vulcan1429]

Talk....talk....talk!!!

[@leonwilcox8020]

No Sugar Trees around here so we grow Sorghum

[@MichelleVisser]

I love that!! I visited a sorghum patch and helped harvest some even many years ago, when I was researching for my book, and I loved everything about it. (but sorry maple syrup tastes much better. :) )