How to Make Maple Syrup!

Are you tired of cloudy Maple Syrup? Do you wish you could feel more confident giving away or selling your syrup? Learn the proper way to filter your Maple Syrup so that it stays crystal clear and beautiful! In this episode we walk through the steps for properly filtering Maple Syrup. I also mention the number 1 mistake that is made in filtering that completely sabotages the whole thing and still...

In this episode walk through the steps of finishing off a batch of Maple Syrup. Bridging off of last week's episode where we talk through the process of boiling off the bulk of the water from the Maple sap, this week we detail the all-important final steps of boiling! It is easy to mess up this part of the process, and once you've already invested hours in boiling, you don't want to en...

Hello all, in this episode we are rebroadcasting a classic for how to boil down your Maple Syrup, including how long it will take, how much it will cost, and how much you'll end up with! We also go into a list of 5 reasons to use propane vs wood. Not only that, be sure to stick around until the end, where Rachel gives you the instructions for a very important action! You won't want to miss...

What grade of Maple Syrup do you produce? Do you know how to tell the difference? In this episode we clear up some common misconceptions about Maple Syrup grading! Download the free Maple Syrup Grading Chart (PDF): ⁠https://howtomakemaplesyrup.org/maple-syrup-grading-chart/⁠ Season 3, Episode 6. In 2014, after concerted efforts from the International Maple Syrup Institute (IMSI) and various maple...

Did you know that scientists are still studying the physiology of exactly how sap moves within a Maple Tree? And did you know that the xylem of the Maple Tree is unlike any other tree? In this episode, we unpack the mysteries revolving around how deliciously sweet Maple Sap is formed and makes its way through the tree! References: https://employees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe/biol327/Lecture/water-trans.htm...

In this episode we go through some of the best practices for tapping maple trees, from how many taps per tree to how deep to make the holes. After this episode you will be all set for tapping your maple trees! Host: Richard Tomlinsen https://howtomakemaplesyrup.org/

When Can I Start Tapping Maple Trees? New and Old Tech for Knowing When to Tap It's no secret that this has been an odd winter and a very odd spring so far. The weather is crazy warm! What does this do to our Maple Tapping Season??? Should we start tapping now? Should we wait until spring actually arrives? Are you confused just like everyone else? In this episode we explore some of the old-tym...

Welcome to a maple syrup journey like no other! As seasoned maple syrup producers, we understand that our sweet success hinges on more than just the broader climate. Join me in this episode as we unravel the intricate world of microclimates—the small-scale variations in weather that wield a mighty influence on sap flow and, consequently, the quality and quantity of our precious maple syrup. Welcom...

Are you a maple syrup enthusiast, dreaming of starting your own sugar bush? Join me in this episode where we delve into the nitty-gritty of what it takes to establish and maintain a successful sugar bush. From soil types to disease resistance. Get ready for a thrilling adventure into the world of maple syrup production! Welcome to the “How to Make Maple Syrup Podcast!” I'm your host, Richard T...

Welcome back to the "How to Make Maple Syrup Podcast!" I am excited to embark on Season 3, and I have a lot of really great episodes on the hopper, and I can't wait to start tapping some Maple Trees! This is a bonus episode; I'm calling it Season 3 Episode 0 because I wanted to give you a heads-up on some exciting news! This is the biggest announcement I have since I started the...

In this episode I go over 5 lesser known, yet still somewhat common mistakes people tend to make when making homemade maple syrup. We start with several mistakes related to boiling the sap into syrup and how that can be messed up! We then cover the final filtering stages when everything happens so fast! Don’t miss this episode to improve your Maple Syrup making operation! Below are links to equipm...

In this episode I go over the top 5 most common mistakes people tend to make when making homemade maple syrup. We start with several mistakes related to tapping the trees and then move on to several mistakes related to boiling the sap into syrup. I come by many of these tips honestly! Don’t miss this episode to improve your Maple Syrup making operation! Below are links to equipment that I use and...

In this episode I give an update on the current Maple Sapping season at the Tomlinsen Sugarbush. I talk about where we’re at, and where we’re going. I also introduce an original song called “Hard Maplin”. I hope you found this entertaining! Download a free eBook as well as other resources from around the web at: h⁠ttps://howtomakemaplesyrup.org/category/resources/ Thank you for listening to the “H...

In this episode, I walk through 5 of my top tips for performing the finishing boil on Maple Syrup. This step can be the most critical in making Maple Syrup (and the easiest on to screw up)! Over the years I have discovered these tips and they have been helpful for me, and I hope that you can get some benefit from them as well. (Tip #4 was the one that has revolutionized my Maple Syrup Making!) Tha...

In this episode of the “How to Make Maple Syrup Podcast,” I go through my top 5 tips for boiling Maple Syrup outdoors.  While the concept of boiling maple sap is pretty straightforward, there are a number of tips and tricks that I’ve picked up over the years that can just make everything go a little smoother!  I really hope that one or more of these tips can provide benefit for you as you boil you...

In this episode of the “How to Make Maple Syrup Podcast” I’ve gone back and thought about all of the tips and tricks I have picked up over the years from tapping Maple trees and collecting the sap to make Maple Syrup, and I talk about the top 5. My hope is that one or more of these will be helpful as you collect your Maple sap this spring! Do you have any really great tips for tapping Maple trees?...

In this episode we answer the question, "Are Maple leaves poisonous?" The answer to this question may come as a surprise. We begin by talking about some of the chemicals that exist within Maple leaves, and what they do once they enter the digestive tract. We then describe how even a 1000 lb. horse can die within 18 hrs. after consuming several pounds of Red Maple leaves. We then discuss...

In this episode, we answer the question, “Is Maple Syrup Good for You?” We start by talking about the some of the healing properties of Maple Syrup first discovered and utilized by First Nation communities in Canada. We then talk about the results of recent research studies on this topic. After that, we explore some of the other numerous benefits of Maple Syrup including its anti-inflammatory prop...

In this episode we talk about the often-elusive question: When can I start tapping my Maple trees? We start by examining the process by which Maple trees produce maple sap. We then answer the questions: if I tap too early will my taps dry out and plug up? If I start too late, how much sap will I miss out on? We discuss when the average start time is for the Maple sugaring season at different latit...

In this episode, we talk about why all the big Maple Syrup producers use Reverse Osmosis to make their Maple Syrup. We then answer the question, what is reverse osmosis? Is this something that I can use as a small-time homemade Maple Syrup maker? We answer questions like: Why is Reverse Osmosis helpful? How much does a system cost? What are the downsides to using Reverse Osmosis in Maple Syrup pro...

Have you ever wondered why Maple Syrup tastes so good? How about why Maple Syrup is golden brown? In this episode of the How to Make Maple Syrup Podcast, we go in-depth into the chemistry of what reactions are occurring at the molecular level to give Maple Syrup its exquisite and unique taste! We start out talking about why no batch of Maple Syrup will ever taste exactly the same (and we're ok...

Is making Maple Syrup bad for the Maple Trees? Does drilling a hole in the tree and sucking out its sap, bad for it? Does tapping a Maple tree kill it? How many years can a Maple tree be tapped before it dies? Do Maple trees that are tapped grow slower or live shorter lives than untapped trees? In this episode we go into the details of tapping Maple trees ans answer these questions. We discuss the...

Does your Maple Syrup have a bunch of crude settled on the bottom of the jar? Do you hesitate to give away or sell your syrup because it doesn’t ‘look good enough’? Do friends and family ask you if it is safe to eat because there looks like mold on the bottom of your Maple Syrup jars? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this is the episode for you! In this 10th installment of the “...

What series of events led to the largest disappearance of Maple Syrup on record? We discuss the Canadian Crime of the Century in this episode! Follow along as we step through the process by which a small band of misfits was able to outwit the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers, resulting in 18 million dollars' worth of missing Maple Syrup. At the end of the episode, we dig into the dee...

What is the Jones Rule of 86? Originally written about in a paper in 1933 by Charles Howland Jones, the name "Jones Rule of 86" was not coined until 1946. In this episode we discuss how the Rule came into being and how it is used in producing maple syrup. We also get into the details of where the number 86 comes from and why it is so prominent on this field. We finish the episode by goin...