How to tap Birch Sap

Birch sap is the liquid that flows through the birch trees in the spring.

It looks clear like water and it has a very sweet and fresh taste.

Here in Sweden, it's been used for hundreds of years because of its health benefits

and back in time they said "Dricka märg i benen"

which means drink marrow into the bones.

Drinking birch sap was a way of regaining energy after a long winter

and it's really true.

Birch sap contains lots of good vitamins and minerals.

And for me it's now a tradition to tap birch sap every spring

and I drink it almost every day during the month of May.

That is actually one of the most wonderful things I know about spring:

to collect a full bottle of birch sap in the evenings

and have a first sip of it under the trees while listening to all the songs of the birds.

In this video I will show you step by step how to tap birch sap.

But remember if you don't have your own garden or land with birch trees,

make sure to ask the owner of the land for permission before you tap from a tree.

And tapping birch sap is something that is only done about three to four weeks during the early spring

from the time the frozen ground has melted

until the leaves of the birch trees start to bloom out.

Depending on where you live it's usually sometime between March and the end of May.

You can tap birch sap in two different ways

and the first way I'm gonna show you is really simple and fast

but it doesn't give you that much birch sap.

But it's perfect if you just wanna try it out really quick.

Just cut off a branch from a birch tree

and then tie a bottle over it and make sure to tie it hard enough so it won't fall down from the weight of the sap.

Leave the bottle for a few hours and hopefully it will be full when you get back.

The other way I'm gonna show you is how I usually do

because it's more effective and it gives you much more birch sap.

But it's important to do it the right way so you don't hurt the tree.

The first step is to drill a small hole into the tree that goes slightly upwards

about two to three centimeters into the tree.

Then put in a pipe or a straw in the same size as the hole

and you will immediately notice if it works.

Tie a bottle or a can around the tree and make sure it's really stuck and can carry the weight when it's full.

Then leave it for a few hours.

I usually do it before I go to sleep so I have fresh birch sap in the mornings.

When you arrive the next time, the can should be full.

Usually you can tap several liters from a tree.

but if you feel done tapping from the tree,

the most important part is to plug the hole.

If you don't do that correctly the tree will continue to bleed and it can cause infections.

The best way is to carve a stick that is a little bit bigger than the hole

and then put it in with the help of a hammer.

Make sure to check that it's really tight so no sap are coming out.

Pour the birch sap into a bottle

and if you keep it in the fridge, it can last for about three to five days.

You can also put it in the freezer if you want to enjoy it later

but I have actually never tried that.

I think it's something beautiful with only drinking it now in the spring.