Our maple sap is not as popular as birch. However, by the number of useful properties, he is not inferior to him.
In the regions of North America, this drink is national and is produced on an industrial scale.
In the article we will look at what constitutes maple sap, how it is useful, how to collect maple sap and what can be made of it.
Composition of maple juice
Maple sap is a light yellow liquid that flows from incised or broken trunks and maple branches. Properly collected maple juice tastes sweet, with a slight woody flavor.
If the juice is collected after the buds have blossomed on the tree, it will be less sweet. The taste also depends largely on the maple variety: the juice of the silvery, ash-leaved and red maple is bitter, as it contains little sucrose. 
Maple sap consists of:
- water (90%);
- sucrose (from 0.5% to 10% depending on the type of maple, the conditions for its growth and the collection period of the liquid);
- glucose;
- fructose;
- dextrose;
- vitamins B, E, PP, C;
- mineral substances (potassium, calcium, iron, silicon, manganese, zinc, phosphorus, sodium);
- polyunsaturated acids;
- organic acids (citric, malic, fumaric, succinic);
- tannins;
- lipids;
- aldehydes.
Did you know? The sweetness of the sap of the same maple species depends on the growing conditions of the tree: the maples located in regions with high humidity will have much more sweet juice than trees that grow in conditions of low humidity and a dry climate.
What is useful maple sap
Due to the fact that the composition of maple sap includes many minerals, vitamins, organic acids, this product replenishes the reserves of our body with useful elements, which is especially necessary in the spring, as well as with beriberi. 
In addition, maple sap has the following beneficial features:
- has a pronounced diuretic effect;
- helps to strengthen the immune system;
- replenishes energy reserves;
- participates in the cleansing of blood vessels;
- prevents the formation of blood clots in the vessels, the development of atherosclerosis and heart disease;
- has antioxidant properties;
- has a choleretic effect;
- normalizes the pancreas;
- has antiseptic, bactericidal and anti-inflammatory properties;
- promotes rapid healing of wounds, burns;
- normalizes blood sugar levels;
- helps to improve the sexual activity of men.
Due to the fact that the product is mainly saturated with fructose and glucose is contained in very small quantities, maple sap is not forbidden to use in diabetes. Maple sap is also indicated during pregnancy, as it contains many mineral and other beneficial substances necessary for the normal development of the fetus and maintaining the health of the expectant mother.
Important! Maple sap contains about fifty polyphenols, which are natural antioxidants, prevent the development of inflammation and cancer cells. American researchers have scientifically proven that the systematic use of juice reduces the risk of the appearance of malignant tumors.
When and how to collect maple sap
We dealt with the benefits, now we will consider how and when it is possible to collect maple sap.
Liquid is collected in March, when air temperature reaches from -2 to + 6 ° ะก. A clear sign that it is time to start collecting is the swelling of the buds on the tree. Collection dates end with the moment of bud break. Thus, the collection period, depending on weather conditions, varies from two to three weeks. 
To collect the liquid, you will need following tools:
- capacity;
- groove or other device of a semicircular shape, through which the juice will fall into the container;
- drill or knife.
Capacity suitable glass or food grade plastic. Wash well before use. Maple sap flows under the bark, in the upper layer of the trunk, so the hole should not be made deep (no more than 4 cm), as this can lead to the death of the tree.
Birch sap is also good for health.
The hole is made at an angle of 45 degrees, from the bottom up to 3 cm in depth. To do this, you can use a drill or a knife. In the resulting hole you need to insert a groove or tube and slightly drive it into the trunk. Place a container under the tube. As a tube, you can use a piece of the branch, along which to make a channel for tap juice. When collecting juice is recommended to follow such rules:
- choose a tree with a trunk width of at least 20 cm;
- to make a hole in the northern part of the trunk;
- the optimal distance from the ground to the hole is about 50 cm;
- optimal bore diameter - 1.5 cm;
- best juice stands out on a sunny day.
Did you know? Among the American tribes of the Iroquois, maple sap was considered a divine drink that gives a lot of strength and energy. It must be added to the food for the soldiers, as well as preparing all sorts of drinks.
How to store maple sap: canning recipes
Under favorable conditions, 15-30 liters of juice can be collected from one hole, so many immediately have a question about how to store maple juice.
Fresh, it can be kept no more than two days in the refrigerator. Then it should be recycled. And now we will understand what can be made from maple sap. 
The most common options are preserving or cooking maple syrup. In addition, from it you can make maple honey, butter or get sugar. Since conservation is the easiest and most common way to store, consider a few recipes., how to preserve maple sap.
Sugar free recipe:
- Sterilize banks (20 minutes).
- Heat the juice to 80 degrees.
- Pour into containers and screw tight.
Sugar recipe:
- Sterilize the banks.
- Add sugar to the juice (100 g sugar per liter of juice).
- Bring the juice to a boil, stirring occasionally to completely dissolve the sugar.
- Pour hot in containers and screw caps.
In order to diversify the taste a bit, you can put slices of orange or lemon in canning. In this case, the fruit should be well washed, no need to peel. 
You can also make delicious maple sap tincture. To do this, add a tablespoon of honey and some dried fruit to a liter of juice, leave for 14 days in a dark, cool place. There is another interesting recipe - heat a liter of liquid to 35 degrees, add a few berries of raisins, dried apricots, about 15 g of yeast, cool and leave to infuse for about a couple of weeks. You get a "sparkling maple wine."
Very useful maple kvass. To make it, you need to take 10 liters of juice, boil for 20 minutes over low heat, cool, add 50 g of yeast, leave to ferment for four days. Then bottled, corked or capped and left to infuse for up to 30 days.
Such brew perfectly quenches thirst, cleanses the body, helps with kidney diseases, urinary system.
Tasty and healthy syrups are made from raspberries, cherries, strawberries, mountain ash or raw plants (mint, wild rose, aloe, rhubarb).
How to cook maple syrup
The maple juice syrup is prepared very simply. To do this, just need to evaporate water from it. We take an enameled deep vessel, pour juice into it and set it on fire. When the liquid boils, we reduce the fire.
A sign of syrup readiness is the formation of a viscous mass of caramel color and a slight woody smell. After cooling a little, the syrup should be placed in a glass container. The product is stored in the refrigerator or other cool and preferably darkened place. For the preparation of one liter of syrup will need 40-50 liters of juice. 
Maple syrup has many useful properties.
American scientists believe that it is even more useful than honey. Well strengthens the immune system, carries a huge amount of energy, improves brain activity and memory, helps cleanse the blood vessels, prevents the development of heart disease, strengthens the heart muscles, is an effective anti-inflammatory and antiseptic.
Syrup is enriched with minerals, such as potassium, phosphorus, iron, sodium, zinc, calcium, which are necessary for our body.
Important! There is no sucrose in maple syrup. Therefore, it is possible and even useful in small quantities to use for diabetics, as well as for people who are struggling with overweight.
Possible harm from maple sap
Maple sap carries tremendous benefits, and can only be harmful if the person is allergic to it. If you have never tried this product before, drink half a glass to start, if there is no deterioration in the condition of the body (nausea, dizziness, skin rash, cough, shortness of breath), it means that it is not contraindicated.
Despite the fact that the juice contains a small amount of glucose and, in principle, it can be used by diabetics, this product still contains sugar and should not be carried away by it.
In addition, in some types and features of the disease, in the advanced stages of its use is contraindicated. Therefore, people with diabetes are advised to consult a doctor before drinking juice.
