Yellow Maple Sap - What Makes It?

Indiana Ken · Mar 20, 2014

I have about 20 trees tapped for maple syrup. Yesterday was the first good sap run for the year. The sap in about three of the buckets was yellow in color, I poured it out rather than risk using it. Does anyone know what makes the off color - looks like pee?

Now that the sap is running the problem is getting back to collect it. Yesterday the mud/water was up to the muffler on the 8N in some areas.

J.Wondergem · Mar 20, 2014

Maybe too many dogs passing through there?

caterpillar guy · Mar 20, 2014

It is probably from the rain dripping off the tree limbs. We got some rain maybe not enough to make it look green like from the tree bark on the limbs. Yes, it will get a greenish tint from the bark, as it drips into the sap, if you have open pails on the trees. I have seen the snow do it also as it melts.
This first run should be light colored like about the color of whiskey when done. The later stuff will be darker. I always liked the light stuff.

Nebraska Cowman · Mar 20, 2014

The darkness is caused by dirty equipment. I worked for an old timer years ago. He told a story of one year sugaring and it warmed up and they pulled all the buckets and washed up the equipment. Then they got a good hard freeze spell and when it warmed back up they re-tapped. he said it made the prettiest light syrup but it did have a "buddy" flavor.

Adirondack case guy · Mar 20, 2014

Sap sourers when it sets in buckets. It has to run consistantly and be collected daily to prevent that. Believe me that hasn't been happening.
We have 2150 buckets up and only have made 11 gals. of Dark Amber syrup.
Pardon the phrase, but it has been a Pizz Poor season this year.
We are going to gather this afternoon, and thaw out the small evaporator again and perhaps make another 11 gal. We washed down all the storage tanks, and the big evaporator this morning, hopeing we will get a consistant run, but we are headed back to the 20's again next week. Geeeerr.
Loren, the Acg.

Eldon (WA) · Mar 20, 2014

(quoted from post at 08:35:29 03/20/14) I have about 20 trees tapped for maple syrup. Yesterday was the first good sap run for the year. The sap in about three of the buckets was yellow in color, I poured it out rather than risk using it. Does anyone know what makes the off color - looks like pee?

Now that the sap is running the problem is getting back to collect it. Yesterday the mud/water was up to the muffler on the 8N in some areas.

Bigfoot!

Hotflashjr · Mar 20, 2014

We run just a few taps, enough for 4 gallons in MA. We have had 4 good runs at this point and get about 5 gallons of sap each run. We had a dry spell for a few days and ours also went sour and we had to dump it. Everything so far for us has been dark amber that we have done even our first run. Strange season for sure!

OhioTractorGuy · Mar 20, 2014

Trying the Maple Syrup myself this year. . . have plenty of trees and from my youth always remember the neighbor's sugar shack steaming up this time of year.
Tapped only four trees; used a bag collection system that I walk out to each day and empty into several of the blue Rubbermaid tubs. Some days I get a gallon between the four trees, yesterday I agree I had two trees that gave me four gallons each. So far Ive boiled off two collections and each time ended up with three of the little maple syrup bottles full. I just let a shallow amount boil in the pot (turkey fryer!) and add another scoop from the tub as it starts to boil down. The syrup has a nice clear amber color and tastes like a sweet caramel corn.
Only thing important missing from the picture is the beer and my bag of doughnuts. . . the beer was in my hand!

Adirondack case guy · Mar 20, 2014

We have always had covers on our buckets, to prevent that. This bush has produced maple syrup for a 100 years now. The sap will still turn yellow when it sets in buckets for more than a couple days at the most.
Loren, the Acg.

55deere70 · Mar 20, 2014

One thing about maple sap for those who are new at it...If you don't have enough to bring to syrup, you can keep it from turning sour by bringing it to a boil. This way it's Pasteurized.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 21, 2014

On the first sap run it is not uncommon for sap from some trees to be yellow. The yellow sap just makes dark strong flavored syrup. It will clear up quickly. At the end of the season the sap will turn yellow again. There is a limited market for the dark stuff. Just go buy a bottle of any syrup or maple flavored instant breakfast product sold in the super markets and you will see where all the strong, dark, late season stuff goes.

We are still in the process of tapping trees. No real runs yet. Too cold here. Playing in the snow up to the a-- of a 7 foot indian and mud underneath. Got my 1955 4WD stuck yesterday. 17,000 lb.s of iron stuck in the mud and snow. Some fun! One local guy got stuck so bad he had to be winched out with a skidder!

NorminN.B. · Mar 21, 2014

How long can it set in the bucket, before it sours. How do you tell if it is sour, by tasting the sap before cooking? Thanks.....

Anonymous-0 · Mar 21, 2014

I made a small boiling rig for my grandson, a 18"x36" pan on a frame that sits on cement blocks. I should get some more made up this summer.

mkirsch · Mar 21, 2014

Yellow Maple Sap - What Makes It?

Lemon trees.

Yellow Maple Sap - What Makes It?

Indiana Ken

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J.Wondergem

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caterpillar guy

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Nebraska Cowman

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Adirondack case guy

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Eldon (WA)

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Hotflashjr

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OhioTractorGuy

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Adirondack case guy

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55deere70

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Anonymous-0

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NorminN.B.

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Anonymous-0

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mkirsch

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