Some people enjoy drinking sap fresh from the tree, while others prefer to boil it for a brief period to kill any bacteria or yeast. Since it is certainly possible for harmful bacteria to be found in sap, the cautious solution is to pasteurize it before drinking.
Many drink sap straight from the collection bucket, but it is highly recommended you boil your sap prior to any use to kill bacteria that may be present. To effectively kill bacteria, bring the sap to a rolling boil and then let it boil one additional minute.
Maple water has a low calorie count of only 45cal to a 500mL serving, less than half the calories of other mineral waters such as coconut water. With only two percent sugar and low calorie content, maple water is a healthy alternative to sugary beverage like fruit juices or sports drinks.
Maple syrup is also a good source of minerals, including potassium, magnesium, calcium and zinc. Overall, real maple syrup is all natural and does not go through a refining process, so it keeps all of the maple sap's original nutritional value that comes from the maple tree.
Maple trees should be at least 30+ years old before they are tapped. A 40-year-old sugar maple tree will produce about 10 gallons of sap per season. This amount is about enough to make one quart of syrup. Trees are not harmed by the tapping process.
Trees above 25 inches in diameter can get up to three taps, but don't put more than three taps into any maple tree, no matter how big it is. That said, some types of maple tree are going to produce sweet syrup more easily than others. Sugar maples have the highest concentration of sugar in their sap of all maple trees.
For example, maple syrup is lower in calories than honey, and therefore may be the better choice for someone looking to lose weight. Pure maple syrup also has fewer carbohydrates and is lower on the glycaemic index than honey, which may make it healthier for certain diets.
Maple water is the unprocessed, filtered sap, just as it comes from the tap. It is only 2% sugar so tastes like refreshing spring water finishing with a hint of sweet.
Spile and bucket or bag is the simplest and oldest collection method. Single trees are tapped with a spile at the beginning of the season and either a bucket or bag is hung from the spile to collect the sap (Figures 1 and 2). Sap is then collected from these vessels frequently throughout the sugaring season.
What first surprised you about maple water? We really had no idea that the water that comes directly from maple trees is this ultra-hydrating, delicious, sustainable beverage. And we were just really surprised, given how much we love the product and how much better it made us feel, that nobody was bottling this.
Maple water is a great natural and plant-based hydration, so it can be used as a base in sports drinks and smoothies. It can easily be mixted in cocktails or mocktails, as it has a subtle and delicate maple taste.
No matter if it is light and delicate or dark and robust, 100% pure maple syrup is the healthy all-natural choice.
“Maple water is going to help you rehydrate and replace those lost electrolytes.” In addition, researchers have found that drinking maple water doesn't entirely quench your thirst. Why is that good? Basically, because that “thirsty feeling” is your body's way of making sure it fully rehydrates.
Although you can eat several types of tree sap, you should not start gnawing on every tree trunk you see. Some trees produce bitter or even poisonous sap. Plus, even edible sap licked directly from the tree is not very tasty.
Coconut water has more potassium and has 40% DV of vitamin C (compared to none in maple water). Maple water has more manganese. More studies are needed to determine which type of water has the most post-exercise hydration potential.
The typical, characteristic flavor of 100% pure maple syrup is a caramel-like bouquet with nutty notes.
With fresh maple sap, the normal range for pH is 3.9 to 7.9 according to the seasons and conditions. However, in most cases the sap is slightly acidic with a typical range of 6.5-7.0.
Consuming it in excess may increase calorie intake and manganese levels. It may increase the risk of chronic diseases. If consumed maple syrup in excess quantities, people diagnosed with diabetes may experience a rise in blood sugar and insulin levels.
Adding maple syrup to your coffee will give it a unique flavor and sweetness that will leave you wanting more. Not only is maple syrup an excellent way to add flavor and sweetness to your coffee, but maple syrup is good for you with naturally occurring minerals and antioxidants.
For the moment, people with diabetes should keep in mind that even if maple syrup contains some potentially promising elements, it remains a food that should only be eaten once in a while and in limited quantities, just like other sources of concentrated carbohydrates.
However, because weather conditions vary somewhat from year to year, and from one location to another, trees can sometimes be tapped as early as mid- February or as late as April. Once temperatures stay above freezing and leaf buds appear, the maple syrup season is over.
That just has to be better for the maple tree in the long run. Less damage to the tree increases the odds of good productivity in future years. For number of taps per tree, I highly recommend only one.