Trees That Can Be Tapped for Syrup

Maple is indeed the main provider of syrup in the North Country. However, some other tree species offer unique flavors and possibilities when tapped. While these alternatives may require more sap and specialized harvesting methods, these other syrups highlight the variety and potential of exploring beyond traditional maple syrup.

Birch sap makes a distinctive syrup with caramel, molasses, and sometimes fruity notes. It takes more sap to make syrup, often around 85-100 gallons for one gallon of syrup compared to the 40:1 ratio of maple trees. Birch sap is naturally much lower in sugar content, typically containing only 0.5-2% sugar. 

For Walnut trees, it takes approximately 40-60 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup, depending on the sugar content. Walnut syrup has a flavor that's often described as rich, caramel-like, and slightly nutty.

The Boxelder tree is technically a maple tree, though it is not commonly used for sap production due to less sugar content and is described as richer, darker, and molasses-like compared to Maple. It takes around 50-60 gallons of sap for one gallon of syrup. 

Sycamore sap is less sweet than sugar maple sap, and sycamore syrup is uncommon, so its flavor and yield are not as well documented. It is difficult to harvest sycamore sap without a vacuum pump, but when conditions are right sycamore trees can generate enough stem pressure to exude sap at atmospheric pressure. It would take roughly 100 gallons of sap to produce a gallon of syrup.

Beech tree syrup is a rare, experimental syrup due to having very low sugar sap. It cannot be harvested through traditional bucket tapping. A vacuum tubing system is the only way to harvest the Beech tree sap. It takes about 120-160 gallons of Beech sap for one gallon of syrup. Its flavor is described as mildly sweet, with notes of raisins and figs.

Even if you may not have maple trees on your property, there are many ways to make sweet products from our forests. If you have questions about forest products or forest management contact Isaac at ism29 [at] cornell.edu (ism29[at]cornell[dot]edu).