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Originally Posted by Kumabjorn
Now, the obvious follow up question is; What is the difference between grade "A" and grade "B"?
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Color and taste. The stuff you buy in the stores is usually grade 'A.' It has a mild maple flavor. Grade 'B' is darker and has a much stronger flavor.
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Thanks for the thorough description, that is a lot of sap from a tree. What happens to it once it is tapped? Do you somehow plug the hole? Wouldn't it continue to give off sap if you didn't?
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Once the weather warms up, the tree stops producing so much sap. Keep in mind that each hole is only tapping into a 1/2" area of the conductive tubing inside the bark. There are two main 'tubes,' zylom and phloem, and it's the phloem 'tubes' that carry the nutrients to the tree. These tubes are found right behind the bark, between the bark and the wood. It's a very thin layer and the maple 'tap' is hardly affecting the transfer of nutrients (unless you put dozens of taps all around the trunk of the tree!) The holes do leak a little bit, but I'd say... maybe just a few ounces before the tree 'heals' itself when the tap is removed. If the tape were left in place, but the weather warms up, there isn't enough sap flowing to bother collecting. That's when you know that sugaring season is over.
Well, that... plus all the adults are sobering up.
Stitchawl