How to drain sap from your birch
Sap can be drunk and brewed into wine
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| Spile |
- Find mature Silver Birch- with trunks at least 25cm diameter and ask permission to drill holes from the owner
- Obtain Plugs and Spiles- a sort of spout, shown right.
- Check the equipment matches the size of the drill bit
- Drill a slightly upwards slanting hole at waist height
- If sap drains out hammer your bucket to the tree, cover and come back in 24 hours.
- If sap doesn't appear, wait a few more weeks then come back.
- When you return plug the tree.
- You can collect up to 2 litres from each tree!
Sap only keeps for a couple of days in the fridge so the wine making process comes quickly after...
Ingredients:
4.5L of Silver Birch Sap
200ml white grape juice, concentrate
Juice of 2 lemons
1.2 kg sugar
sachet of white wine yeast
yeast nutrient
Heat sap with lid to 75 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes, take off heat and stir in sugar until dissolved, cover and allow to cool, adding remaining ingredients. Remain covered for five days then transfer to Demi John for 2 months.
References: http://ntugre.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/word-2926-spile.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/feb/01/how-to-make-birch-sap-wine
