Acer saccharum, Acer spp.

Description

The juice of this plant contains a high sugar content and can be processed into a drink or syrup by evaporating the water. The syrup is often used as a sweetener in many foods. The best time to harvest the juice is in late winter or early spring on a warm sunny day after a frost. Trees on southern slopes in sandy soil generally yield the best results. A hole about 7 cm deep and 1.3 meters above the ground is ideal. Each tree can yield between 40-100 liters of juice. The best sap production often comes from cold winter areas with a continental climate. The sap contains 2-6% sugar, which requires about 32 liters of sap to make one liter of maple syrup. The seeds of this plant can be eaten fresh or dried for later consumption. They can also be cooked. The wings of the seeds are removed, and then they are cooked and eaten warm in small clusters. The bark of the plant can also be cooked. Once it is dried and ground into powder, it can be used as a thickening agent in soups or mixed with grain when making bread.

Guilds