Trees You Can Tap for Syrup Beyond Sugar Maples

Discover the best trees for making syrup, from maples to sycamores, plus expert tips for tapping, timing, and creating your own delicious homemade syrup.

Close-up of a metal spile inserted into a tree with sap dripping from the tap.

Tree tapping and syrup making are beloved traditions, especially here in New England. For years, I believed that only sugar maples could produce syrup, leaving me feeling limited by the two non-sugar maples on my property. It turns out I was wrong—there’s a whole world of tappable trees out there waiting to be explored!

Did you know you can tap trees beyond sugar maples for syrup? From birches to walnuts, many trees can produce delicious, unique syrups. Whether you’re a seasoned homesteader or just starting, this guide will introduce you to the types of trees you can tap, what makes each syrup unique, and tips to get started.

Trees You Can Tap for Syrup

Each of these trees offers a unique flavor profile and tapping experience, expanding the possibilities beyond the traditional maple syrup. Whether you’re looking for earthy, caramel, or butterscotch-like tones, these tree varieties allow you to experiment and craft syrups tailored to your taste.

Maples (Sugar and Beyond)

When people think of tree syrup, sugar maples are the first that come to mind. But did you know other maple varieties are tappable, too?

Sugar Maples: The classic choice for syrup making, thanks to their high sugar content.
Red Maples: More common in suburban backyards but yield slightly less sugar than sugar maples.
Silver and Black Maples: Both produce a lighter syrup but require more sap and longer boiling times.
Bigleaf, Canyon, and Rocky Mountain Maples: Found in the western U.S., they produce unique regional flavors.

I’ve tapped the red maples on my property, and while the process takes a little longer, the syrup is deliciously worth it.

Comparison of bark and leaves from maple, walnut, birch, sycamore, and ironwood trees. — Recognize tappable trees by their bark and leaves. Maple, walnut, birch, sycamore, and ironwood trees are all excellent syrup producers.

Walnuts

White, Black, and English walnuts are fantastic for tapping, producing a darker, earthy-flavored syrup. Walnut trees typically produce less sap than maples but can be tapped at a younger age. My neighbor taps her black walnut trees, and her syrup is perfect drizzled over pancakes or roasted vegetables.

Birches

Paper, Yellow, Black, and European White birches can all be tapped. Birch syrup is famous in Alaska, where Paper Birch is commonly used.

Flavor: Slightly tangy with hints of caramel.
Sap-to-Syrup Ratio: 100:1, making it more labor-intensive than maple.
Pro Tip: Birch sap runs later in the season, usually after maple season has ended.

Sycamores

Sycamores, found across the U.S., produce sap with a butterscotch-like flavor. If you have only one or two sycamore trees, you can mix their sap with other tree sap to make a blended syrup, creating a unique combination of flavors to enjoy.

Ironwood

Ironwood sap runs late in the season and produces a rich, flavorful syrup that many find deeply satisfying. These trees are less common but worth considering if you have them on your property, as their syrup offers a unique taste profile. Although they may require more effort to tap due to their later sap run, the results are well worth the wait for adventurous syrup makers.

How to Tap Trees for Syrup

Before you start tapping trees, it’s essential to understand the basics of the process, from selecting the right equipment to knowing when sap begins to flow. A little preparation ensures you’ll get the most out of your tapping season and make syrup-making an enjoyable, rewarding experience.

Choosing Your Trees

Look for healthy trees that are at least 10 inches in diameter. Trees larger than 18 inches can support multiple taps.

1 Tap: For trees 10–17 inches in diameter.
2 Taps: For trees 18–24 inches in diameter.
3 Taps: For trees 25 inches or larger.

Setting Up Your Taps

You’ll need a drill, spiles (taps), and collection buckets or bags. For an all-in-one solution to get started, check out this Maple Tapper Tree Tapping Kit. It includes spiles, drop lines, filters, and even recipe cards to help you turn sap into syrup with ease.

Drill your tap holes at a slight upward angle, insert the spiles, and attach your collection method.

Metal spile and collection bucket attached to a tree for sap harvesting. — Using a spile and bucket to collect sap is a classic and reliable method for beginners and experienced syrup makers alike.

How Much Syrup Will You Get?

The average tap produces around 1/3 gallon of syrup per season, though this depends on the tree type and weather conditions. Sugar maples are the most efficient, but even lower-yielding trees like birch or sycamore can produce flavorful results.

Tips for Syrup Success

To make the most of your syrup-making efforts, it’s important to combine proper techniques with an understanding of your trees’ unique characteristics.

Timing Is Everything

Sap runs when daytime temperatures are above freezing, and nighttime temperatures are below freezing. This typically happens in late winter or early spring.

Boiling the Sap

Sap needs to be boiled to remove water and concentrate its sugar, transforming it into syrup. This process, called evaporation, requires a significant amount of heat since sap contains a high percentage of water—usually around 98%. As the water evaporates, the sugars become more concentrated, resulting in the thick, sweet syrup we enjoy.

The process must be closely monitored to prevent scorching, and a thermometer is often used to ensure the syrup reaches the correct temperature, typically around 219°F (104°C). For best results, use a wide, shallow pan to increase surface area and speed up evaporation.

It takes about:

40 gallons of maple sap to make 1 gallon of syrup.
100 gallons of birch sap for 1 gallon of birch syrup.

Outdoor evaporator boiling sap to make syrup, surrounded by wood and snowy forest scenery. — Boiling sap over an outdoor evaporator turns it into sweet, delicious syrup—a rewarding process for any syrup enthusiast.

Experiment with Blends

If you only have one or two tappable trees, consider blending different saps to create unique flavors. For instance, I’ve combined red maple and birch sap for a light, caramel-like syrup.

What Makes Each Syrup Unique?

Each tree produces sap with a slightly different flavor profile:

Maple Syrup: Classic and versatile, with a rich, sweet flavor.
Birch Syrup: Tangy and caramel-like, ideal for savory dishes.
Walnut Syrup: Earthy and robust, perfect for drizzling over desserts.
Sycamore Syrup: Light and buttery, with a hint of butterscotch.

Glass bottle filled with golden syrup beside a wooden spoon on a burlap surface. — The final product: golden, homemade syrup ready to enjoy on pancakes, waffles, or in recipes.

Tapping Trees for Syrup: Your Questions, Answered

Fruit trees like apples or cherries produce sap, but it’s not suitable for syrup-making due to its low sugar content and different composition.

Sugar maples are the easiest and most efficient trees to tap. Red maples or black walnuts are good alternatives if sugar maples aren’t available.

Sap flows when daytime temperatures are above freezing, and nighttime temperatures are below freezing. Look for dripping sap from natural wounds in the tree.

Yes! Sap water can be used as a refreshing drink, for brewing tea, or even as a base for soups and stews.

Tap into sweet success! Pin this syrup-making guide now.

Blue buckets collecting sap from birch trees in a forest, illustrating how to tap trees for syrup beyond maples.

Tapping trees for syrup is a rewarding and delicious way to connect with nature and make use of the resources on your property. From sugar maples to birches, walnuts, and sycamores, there’s a variety of trees to explore.

If tapping trees for syrup has sparked your interest in connecting with nature’s bounty, why not take it a step further? There’s a whole world of edible plants waiting to be discovered right outside your door. Learning how to identify and use them can deepen your appreciation for sustainable living and provide fresh, natural additions to your pantry.

Have you ever tapped a tree for syrup? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear about your experiences or any tips you have!

29 Comments

Stelbert Russell says:

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Can you tap cottonwood tree for syrup?

Cee eff says:

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I’ve had great luck using Norway maples on my two acre lot.

Joyce says:

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As I understand it, boxelder can be tapped for syrup, too. It’s in the maple family.

TrollForge says:

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Vermont is far from “the syrup capital of the world” Quebec produces 72% of the worlds Maple Syrup, Vermont, 6%.
What tree are you referring to as “Ironwood” I know of at least 3 trees in eastern North America that have that name, it is colloquial, not a proper name.

1. GinnyM says:
  
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  I was just going to say.. sorry not the syrup capital of the world… not even close… Quebec Canada holds that title and has for a long time and it won`t be handing it over to vermont anytime soon. Quebec averages 7,989,000 gallons of syrup a year… Vermont only produces 890,000 so it`s not even a close race.
  
  1. Donna says:
    
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    But what their saying our north eastern states are our syrup cap. Of the USA. Maybe not the world but mighty fine syrup for all of us. So let’s not fuss over whose syrup is the best. Ty. ?
    
2. Naturegeek says:
  
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  I was just scrolling down here to ask the same thing, too many trees called ironwood for that to be useful. Also, the couple tree I know of being called ironwood I don’t think really ever get big enough to tap.
  
Twelve Stones Farm says:

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More amazing yummy stuff from your trees is the sugar water. It is one of our favorite things to set taps and then when the buckets are full (there are times when it is hard to keep up with the flow) we just bring the bucket inside and ladle that amazing sweet water into a glass and drink. It is chilled and slightly sweet and SO GOOD. Like tree juice…only not nearly as sweet as real fruit juice. This is also high end goods, as in VT they bottle this yummy stuff and call it VT sweet water, and it isn’t cheap for a lovely small glass bottle of it. So empty your buckets right into your glasses, as a wonderful treat. Then of course boil the rest.

kim cook says:

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It takes approx 43 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. (40-50 depending on sugar content of sap) just thought I’d pass that along for those interested 🙂

susan says:

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refreshing blog entry. Would love to learn and have the perfect maine yard.

Kelly at Little Fall Creek says:

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I am so excited to do this! We have maples and sycamore all over the place!

1. Carolyn Beigh says:
  
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  Do you know if mulberry trees are good for tapping to make syrup?
  
Sarah Woltjer says:

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My family started tapping black walnuts on our property last year. We had a lot of fun, with some great tasting results. We are looking forward to trying our hand at tapping our maples this year. Thanks for the great giveaway!!!

Rebecca | LettersFromSunnybrook.com says:

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I was at the Pennsylvania Farm Show this past week and saw stuff about tapping other trees there, too. I didn’t know about this before. Of course, I couldn’t leave without taking home maple candies — yumm!

1. Jessica says:
  
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  Well of course, you’ve got to have your maple candies 🙂
  
Holly Wolfe says:

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My family has tapped silver maples on our property for 2 years in West Virginia. We need more taps! Thank you!

Dawn says:

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I am fascinated with the idea of making my own maple syrup. When we buy property later this year, maple trees are a priority!

jojomatt says:

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Would love to start making my own Maple syrup. We have over 100 acres of Maples, all kinds, and Birch, all kinds. Let the syrup begin.

Denise says:

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Awesome!

Once Upon a Time in a Bed of Wildflowers says:

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This is awesome! My brother makes maple syrup… but maybe he shouldn’t have *all* the fun! 🙂
~ Christine

1. Jessica says:
  
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  It’s messy, but oh so fun!
  
Tracie says:

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We have 11 Sugar Maples tagged, can’t wait to tap!

Cheryl Roy says:

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Thank you for such a fantastic giveaway.

Jeannette Olton says:

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What a wonderful giveaway! Thank you.

Janet Garman says:

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awesome! Our family was just talking about this. Most thought you had to have sugar maples but I was thinking there were other trees that would work. Can’t wait to show them this post.

1. Tammy Morris says:
  
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  We are starting this also. My question is..should we mix sap from different trees and does this do any harm to the trees? Thank you 🙂
  
  1. Jessica says:
    
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    I was wondering that myself, and honestly I don’t know. I would check out your Cooperative Extension office for a reliable answer. I plan to contact mine.
    
Andrea says:

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Great info.

PintSizeFarm says:

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Thanks!