Birch sap has been a traditional beverage for centuries. It’s said to be mineral-rich and has many health benefits. The sap tastes a little sweet and has a slight zing to it. It’s very subtle, but if you boil it down to make birch syrup, then you will really notice the concentrated flavors. Birch sap taste can vary depending on location and factors like sunlight and soil.
I’ve been harvesting birch sap for a few years now. We have a daughter who suffers terribly from birch pollen allergy, and I’ve heard that drinking birch sap can help, so we have been experimenting with that. It’s a really simple process, and the health benefits of birch sap are said to be many. Plus, it's a really delicious and ref reshing drink!
Some Important Things Before You Start
Only harvest on private property or ask for permission! Though harvesting doesn’t necessarily harm the tree, it’s important to have permission. Harvesting birch sap is not allowed under Swedens ‘Allemansrätt’ ( The freedom to roam in Sweden means that you have the right to walk, cycle, ride, ski, and camp on any land with the exception of private gardens near a dwelling house or land under cultivation.
We’re lucky to have a birch tree in our garden and have harvested very small amounts each year from that one tree. If you plan to harvest larger amounts, you shouldn’t use the same tree 2 years in a row.
Harvest only from healthy trees so as not to stress the tree further.
Choose larger trees, preferably 30 years old or more. If you are unsure, here is a tree age calculator that you can use.
Only tap one hole per tree and preferably allow the tree to rest for a few years between tapping.
Another important step is to seal the hole properly after collecting. Use a wooden plug or a piece of birch branch trimmed to size to seal the hole and prevent infection. You want it to be a snug fit, so gently knock the plug into place with a hammer or rock. Use a cloth or your sleeve to wipe around the hole; you should not see new sap appearing.
For tips on how to identify Birch trees you can check out this post from The Spruce and this post by Nature Goupie.
When to harvest
The best time to harvest birch sap is just before the leaves emerge. Too early and the tree will still be in hibernation, too late and the sap is said to taste bitter.
As a rough guide, a daytime temperature of around 8°C /46°F is usually a good time to set up a tap.
For us in southern Sweden, the best time to harvest is mid-April. I’ve been fooled by a few weeks of sun in late March and set things up without any luck. South-lying trees tend to wake up a little earlier.
How To Collect Birch Sap
You will need:
- A straw ( we used silicon, but you can use what you have on hand) or spout specially designed for gathering sap.
- A clean glass or plastic bottle with a narrow mouth ( If you plan to harvest large volumes of birch sap, you may like to invest in a tree tapping kit. They usually include a long tube that can be attached to a larger vessel that rests on the ground.)
- String to secure the bottle
- A power drill with a medium-sized drill bit. ( try to match the bit size with the size of your straw or spout
1. Drill a shallow hole 5cm/ 2 inches deep at a slight upward angle into the trunk’s wood, about 1 meter/3.5 feet from the ground. You should see some sap begin to seep out of the hole. If not, you can try drilling a little deeper.
If you still don’t see any sap, it may be too early. Plug the hole as in step 3 and return in a week to try again.
2. Snugly insert a straw or spout into the hole. Hold the bottle in place and insert the end of the straw or spout into the bottle. To hold the bottle in place, make a few loops around the bottleneck with the string, wrap it around the tree, and tie a double knot.
You should see the sap begin to collect in the bottle. It can be a slow, steady drip, or it can even pour if you are lucky. Depending on the flow speed, you will need to check often to see that the bottle doesn’t overflow!
3. Seal the hole properly after collecting. Use a wooden plug or a piece of birch branch trimmed to size to seal the hole and prevent infection. You want it to be a snug fit, so use a hammer or rock to gently knock the plug into place. Use a cloth or your sleeve to wipe around the hole; you should not see new sap appearing! It’s always a good idea to check back after a few days to be sure that the tree is not still ‘bleeding’.
Birch sap uses
Enjoy fresh birch sap as a refreshing drink over a little ice, or add a splash of cordial if you prefer. You can use it to make lemon sorbet, or if you have enough sap, you can make your own birch syrup. We’ve made small amounts of birch syrup just for fun, you really need large amounts you need large amounts (10 plus liters)of sap for it to be worth it but the flavor is really distinct and much deeper than maple syrup. You can also freeze birch sap in an airtight container or ice cube.
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How To Harvest Birch Sap in a bottle
Birch sap has been a traditional beverage for centuries.Its said to be mineral rich and have many health benefits. It sap tastes a little sweet, and has a slight zing to it. It’s very subtle but if you boil it down to make birch syrup then you will really notice the concentrated flavors.
Materials
- A straw or spout specially designed for gathering sap
- A clean glass or plastic bottle with a narrow mouth
- String to secure the bottle
Tools
- Power drill with a medium sized drill bit. ( try to match the bit size with the size of your straw or spout
Instructions
1. Drill a shallow hole 5cm/ 2 inches deep at a slight upward angle into the trunk's wood, about 1 meter/3.5 feet from the ground. You should see some sap begin to seep out of the hole. If not, you can try drilling a little deeper. If you still don't see any sap, you may be too early. Plug the hole as in step 3 and return in a week's time to try again.
2. Insert a straw or spout snugly into the hole. Hold the bottle in place and insert the end of the straw or spout into the bottle. To hold the bottle in place, make a few loops around the bottleneck with the string, wrap it around the tree, and tie a double knot. You should see the sap begin to collect in the bottle. It can be a slow, steady drip or it can even pour if you are lucky. Depending on the speed of the flow you will need to check often to see that the bottle doesn't overflow.
3. Seal the hole properly after collecting. Use a wooden plug or a piece of birch branch that is trimmed to size to seal the hole and prevent infection. You want it to be a snug fit, so use a hammer or rock to gently knock the plug into place. Use a cloth or your sleeve to wipe aroud the hole; you should not see new sap appearing.