Technical Corner

Tis the season for Maple Syrup..! Well, the tail end of the season for collecting sap from the trees. Our season here in upstate NY runs between mid-February and mid-March roughly, and also depends on the temperature.

Sap out of a tree is actually mostly water and is clear. So, low temps do not allow for good sap flow. However, you want 20oF to 30oF nights and a 40oF to 50oF day with the hopes of collecting the sap during the daytime and not overflowing your buckets overnight.

I think most people have an idea where syrup comes from or likely have visited some of the nearby sugar shacks, but in general there is a lot to it and some science as well.

Science and Labor: I do partake in making maple syrup and this past season I really honed in on getting the correct temperatures of the sap. For example, you can use a thermometer, but I chose to use a hydrometer (see photo). When you are boiling sap, you are basically boiling off the water and water boils at around 210oF But once the water begins to evaporate you are left with really hot sap with the goal of continuing to boil until you are at a temp of around 219oF. The water is actually keeping the temp down at it’s boiling point but once the water is gone then the temp rises. Too much, and your syrup will crystalize into a hard candy. So, the last few minutes is critical in getting the temperature just right.

Health Benefits:Did you know that maple syrup is loaded with minerals and antioxidants too. I put syrup on a lot of things as I use it for a substitute for the typical white sugar/corn syrup. Maple syrup is by far the healthier choice in my opinion and is natural. Also, not to mention the labor involved to haul and cook off the water is commendable which adds to the health benefits.

To stick with the labor and tie in the Science-rule of thumb - 40 Gallons of sap will yield 1 Gallon of Syrup

Hopefully this article finds you well and can be used as a reference when you start making your own maple syrup.

If anyone would like to contribute to the RES magazine and add an article or would like to request information on a specific topic (not limited to Electrical) just email me beliasz@bergmannpc.com. As always, any comments are appreciated…! Thank you for reading.

Brett Eliasz, P.E., LEED AP BD+C , RES Director