Maple syrup is a traditional Canadian and American treat, the basis of which is sugar maple juice. Unfortunately, sugar maple does not grow in Russia, but if you want to enjoy and invaluable benefit from this product, you have acutifolia maple. The juice of this tree is less sugar, but it can also be used to make syrup.
Pick your recipe
You will need
-
- sugar maple or acutifolia maple,
- drill,
- vessels for collecting juice,
- large flat boilers
- bonfire
- jars for syrup.
Instruction manual
1
Choose a suitable tree. The maple maple is quite widespread in the forest zone of European Russia, reaching in the north of South Karelia, and in the east - the Urals. To collect the juice, use adult maple trees, 30 years old and older, with a wide crown and a smooth trunk; barrel thickness should be more than 20 cm.
2
To collect juice in a tree trunk, make a hole with a diameter of 1.5 cm and a depth of 5-10 cm, then there are two options: insert a metal corner with a hook into the hole, on which place a bucket for juice or insert tubes through which the juice will drain into a special vessel. When installing the equipment, note that to obtain 1 liter of syrup, it is necessary to collect 30-40 liters of juice, so it is better to organize several collection points.
3
Collect maple juice as well as birch, best in early spring. The most favorable time is March. At this time, the kidneys swell, and the air temperature fluctuates around zero. In such conditions, maple gives more juice, and it is especially sweet. The collection period can range from 8 to 45 days, it all depends on weather conditions and the capabilities of the tree itself.
4
To produce syrup, equip a place for evaporating juice. To do this, light several fires and place juice boilers on them. The best location is not far from the gathering place, but at a safe distance from the trees. Juice consists of 96% water, it will take many hours to evaporate it and get the syrup of the required concentration. When all the water has evaporated, a dark, viscous mass with a pleasant smell of wood will remain in the boilers. Sugar does not need to be added - the syrup should not contain anything except maple juice. When the syrup has cooled slightly, pour it into jars.
5
Maple syrup adds an exquisite caramel flavor to sweets, so you can use it in the confectionery and bakery industries as a natural sugar substitute. Salads, baked meat, marinades, pies and cakes - everything acquires an original unobtrusive woody aroma, recognizable and loved by many. Also, maple sugar is recommended by nutritionists to use as a substitute for white due to its lower calorie content.
note
When collecting juice, try to cause minimal harm to the tree, make a hole carefully. After collecting, glue it with resin or or hammer a wooden cork into the hole.
Do not take all the juice from one tree, this will doom it to death.
Useful advice
Chefs at the best restaurants use maple syrup to prepare sauces for meat, fish, salads, and, of course, to prepare a variety of desserts. Meat dishes acquire a spicy, rich taste, and pastries - a special flavor. It is also used as an independent additive to ice cream, waffles, pancakes, granola, drinks, including tea and coffee, to glazed fruits and fruit salads.