Wonder how this works on Cactus??!! :)

Put me down for a bottle if you are shipping. Will pay pal the funds
!

can some one explain the difference between grade A, B and C Maple Syrup???

Well $chit!

I had so much sap to boil last night, that I thought I'd lay down on the couch and let it boil for a couple more hours. Woke up at 1AM and had burned it. FEK.

Did the same thing 3 years ago, had to use an angle grinder to clean the pan!

Ah well, I'll start again tonight.

I have BIG plans for next year. I want to make a new boiler, using an old hot water tank with a larger stainless pan. I think a LONG boiler would make a big difference; most of my heat is going up the stovepipe.

pmajka,

I've been out of the industry for a few decades, but IIRC:
'C' dark syrup not a great taste. (not as dark as molasses)
'B' dark amber, lighter taste, usually
'A' medium amber, usual best quality
'AA' or 'Fancy' light amber,
The grades depend upon cleanliness. More impurities=darker
Higher sugar content (sweeter sap) means less boiling, less caramalization and at what point in the season the syrup is produced. Earlier=more sugar in the sap and fewer proteins which can give the finished product a darker color and a 'buddie' taste.
Hope this helps.
Les

Year before last, I got greedy and was boiling late sap... it came out like the "C" that Les described. Quite dark and tasted different. Still better than Aunt Jemima!

Most of my trees are Norway Maples... explains my 50:1 yeild!

Whatever you do, no sugaring in the garage with the P-Car!

So I boiled and boiled and boiled and boiled and boiled.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1175655327.jpg

Then, when I started to get bored of boiling, I boiled some more.

I keep an eye on the temperature as it gets darker; it's done at 219F. It's near impossible to control the heat over wood, so once it gets to 215 or so, I bring it inside and finish it off on the stove.

Finally bottled my first batch. I usually wait until the very end to filter & bottle, but I had some time after work.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1175655652.jpg

It's quite dark, which probably means I'm a bit late in the season. I'll call it quits soon.

Very nice work.

Get the wife to make some pancakes and enjoy!

Nice work, Jake!

And, if you have to put something else in a Crown Royal bottle, Maple Syrup is a good choice. ;)

Les

Ya I think the crown royal bottles are really nice for syrup. My neighbor is a clean livin' type, and wasn't too keen on having booze bottles. He got me some regular syrup bottles to use for his stuff.

I've used clear Sleeman's beer bottles too, they have a maple leaf on them and look pretty good.