Tapping trees

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Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sat May 07, 05 1:10 pm Post subject:
Don't sopse you've thought about growing sugar beet or some other form of sugar? I'm tempted to give it a go to add the juice to wines one day.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Mon May 09, 05 8:34 am Post subject: Re: Tapping trees

farmwoody wrote:

Cab, is this something you've done?

No, so I'll be watching your progress with great interest

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Mon May 23, 05 3:53 pm Post subject:
Is it now definitely too late in the year to tap a birch tree? There are three nice big ones in Bagpuss's garden within reach of an electric drill... I could tap them and plug them easily, but is it now far too late in the year?

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45676
Location: Essex

Posted: Mon May 23, 05 3:57 pm Post subject:
Everything i've ever read says that it should be as the sap is rising, i.e. it should be coming into leaf.

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Sat Jun 04, 05 11:08 pm Post subject:
Definitely too late, Cab. I have the same problem. I've been tapping my Maples for syrup, but they are more forgivving. The Birch now needs all its sap for foliage and vertical growth. You and I have missed that window, matey. Better luck next year.

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sun Jun 05, 05 6:58 am Post subject:
I was too late here too. (and I did mine ages ago) All I got was about an inch in the demi john.

Blue Peter

Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 2400
Location: Milton Keynes

Posted: Tue Jun 07, 05 11:19 am Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

Don't sopse you've thought about growing sugar beet or some other form of sugar? I'm tempted to give it a go to add the juice to wines one day.

That's something that crossed my mind a while ago. What is sugar beet? and how do you get the sugar out?

Peter.

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Jun 07, 05 11:27 am Post subject:

Blue Peter wrote:

Treacodactyl wrote:

Don't sopse you've thought about growing sugar beet or some other form of sugar? I'm tempted to give it a go to add the juice to wines one day.

That's something that crossed my mind a while ago. What is sugar beet? and how do you get the sugar out?

I'll dig out the details tonight, but it's a large swede like plant where the beet is chopped up and the sugary liquid pressed out. This liquid is then refined but I wander if it can be used in that state for wines and beers etc.

Blue Peter

Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 2400
Location: Milton Keynes

Posted: Tue Jun 07, 05 11:57 am Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

Cheers. I wonder if something like a fruit press (Vigo) could be used to extract the stuff?

Peter.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Tue Jun 07, 05 12:03 pm Post subject:
My favourite ever road sign, which I saw in France during the sugar beet harvest said: Attention aux Betteraves, loosely translated: Beware of the Beetroot.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri Jun 10, 05 9:18 pm Post subject:

Blue Peter wrote:

Cheers. I wonder if something like a fruit press (Vigo) could be used to extract the stuff?

Sugar beet is Beta vulgaris var. esculenta and is related to other beets and bred from the wild sea-beet. Apparently it contains about 20% sucrose. I think the roots are chopped and the liquid extracted and refined.

I think It may be worth extracting the sugary liquid and adding direct to a wine. I'd use a hydrometer to check the sugar levels and it might even add something to the wine.

Tahir mentioned Tuckers do the seeds on this thread, so I think I'll try a packet next year: https://www.forum.downsizer.net/about744.html

Blue Peter

Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 2400
Location: Milton Keynes

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 10:16 am Post subject:
Cheers, Peter.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 10:36 am Post subject:
What about using a parsnip wine recipe on sugar beets??? You'd need to use the hydrometer as perhaps you may not need added sugar, and you could always add additional flavouring ingredients perhaps?

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 10:38 am Post subject:

sally_in_wales wrote:

What about using a parsnip wine recipe on sugar beets???

It would certainly work, but you'll find recipes for sugar beet wine too I'm sure.

In truth, I make all my veg wines to more or less the same recipe anyway. I think I've only got three or four basic wine recipes, and everything is made using one of them.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Mon Jun 13, 05 11:09 am Post subject:
I'm sure I've seen a manglewurzle wine recipe, may even be in one of Seymore's books. Anyone know if you can buy sugar beets for home use?

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