Maple sugar

[randyt]

Made up some maple sugar. To make get maple syrup up to 265 degrees. Then pull off heat and start stirring with a wooden spoon. It will start to solidify. I then run it through a processor to break down all the lumps. A quart makes about 3 cups

Maple sugar was the preferred storage method. The Ojibwa would use paddles and basswood troughs to make sugar. They stored the sugar in birch bark cones

 

[Patchouli]

@randyt you're back!
What does a birchbark cone look like?

 

[randyt]

@randyt you're back!
What does a birchbark cone look like?

Sorta like a waffle cone

 

[randyt]

Double post

 

[Tacitus]

@randyt you're back!
What does a birchbark cone look like?

I found this online at this site: Birchbark cones with maple syrup | MNopedia

 

[Patchouli]

Yummy! Looks like chocolate to me.
Do you store yours in ...glass jars or what? @randyt

 

[randyt]

Made up a gas buner thingies. Had a nearly new viking range we replaced because the oven didn't work. So I cut it off just below the burners and put a cap on the bottom.i have my pan held up by angle iron. The lady that warranteed the range took all the burner grates. I have grates from another stove that ill modify for this stove.

 

[randyt]

Yummy! Looks like chocolate to me.
Do you store yours in ...glass jars or what? @randyt

I store mine in mason jars

 

[Cabin Fever]

We will try this! But my question is, you don't have to do any further evaporation (concentrating)? All one has to do heat the maple syrup to 265ºF and it will solidify?

 

[randyt]

We will try this! But my question is, you don't have to do any further evaporation (concentrating)? All one has to do heat the maple syrup to 265ºF and it will solidify?

As it is heated to 265 it does evaporate off water. Don't stir it. Then shut the burner off and start stirring. Don't quit it will start to granulated. Also if it foams while boiling put a pat of butter in it. That stops the foaming.

 

[Cabin Fever]

We don't use butter. Is it bad if it foams?

 

[LadyLocust]

Also on this subject for those who are interested~

 

[randyt]

We don't use butter. Is it bad if it foams?

Might foam out the top.im sure something else would work

 

[randyt]

Did something a little different this year.used food grade buckets and tubing. I could go to the bucket with a few taps. I drilled snug holes in the side if the bucket. I thought about the lid but it rains that time of year and I didn't want extra water to boil off.

 

[randyt]

We don't use butter. Is it bad if it foams?

I heard a bit of vegetable oil does the same.

 

[Weedygarden]

I don't have a maple tree that is large enough to tap, and several larger maple trees have been removed in my area because they become hollow and don't really do well here.

 

[Tim Horton]

Supposedly sap season has started quite early this year in many places around this area.. No word on the sugar content of the sap or quantities yet...

In the far north we made birch syrup once.. It was OK as there weren't any maple trees in the area, but not as good as maple syrup.. It was also a lot more work as maple reduces about 40 to 1, birch reduces about 100 to 1...