Making Maple Syrup

This page features information tailored for beginning maple syrup producers, although established producers may find value as well. Last updated – Jan. 2025

Step-by-Step Guide to Make Your Own Maple Syrup

These resources provide step-by-step assistance for anyone interested in making maple syrup.

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Basic Equipment Needs

Supply List for Beginning Producers

This list and the information linked to each bullet were put together by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Maple Syrup Production Program.

Getting Geared Up for Maple Sugaring

Supplies and Equipment Needed for 1 to 50 taps (PDF)

This six-page bulletin was developed in 2023 by Jason Lilley, Assistant Extension Professor, Sustainable Agriculture and Maple Industry Educator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Maple Syrup Production Program

Maple Tree Identification

The first step of production is identifying the trees that can be used to make maple syrup. The most commonly tapped maples in Wisconsin are the sugar maple, red maple, and silver maple, but other species can produce syrup as well.

How to Identify a Maple Tree (9 min)

Scott Hershberger of UW-Madison Extension shows how to identify sugar maples, red maples, silver maples, box elders, and Norway maples based on leaves, buds, and samaras (seeds).

Online Tree Identification Tool:

Wisconsin Tree Identification Online Key (UW-Stevens Point)

Maple Identification and Distribution in Wisconsin (47 min)

This recording of the Wisconsin Maple Hour features DNR forest ecologist and silviculturist Brad Hutnik and a discussion about maple species in Wisconsin, how to identify them, their relevance for maple syrup and what we can expect in the future.

Choosing Which Trees to Tap

After you identify your maple trees, its time to select the best trees to tap for optimal sap production. The commonly tapped maple species in Wisconsin are the sugar maple, red maple, and silver maple, but every tree is different. Consider the information below when choosing which trees to tap in your sugarbush.

Blog: Achieving sweet success with your maples
This video from the University of Vermont Proctor Maple Research Center and Extension Maple Program explores the relationship between tree size (diameter), crown size, and sap yield from maple trees.

How to Tap Maple Trees

After you’ve identified the best maple trees for optimal sap production, it’s time to tap your trees.

Tapping Maple Trees for High Sap Yield (5 min)

This video from the University of Vermont Proctor Maple Research Center and Extension Maple Program explores best management practices to achieve high sap yields when tapping maple trees.
Blog: How to tap trees for optimal production

Comprehensive Tree Tapping Clinic (1 hr)

Jim Adamski, sales consultant with CDL Wisconsin, joined The Maple Hour to cover everything syrup producers need to know about tapping maple trees. (63 min.)

Maple Sap Flow and Collection

As winter thaws and sap starts to flow out of your spiles, you’ll need to collect and store the sap, keeping it clean and cold, until it’s time to cook. Some common methods used in small-scale production are outlined below.

Maple Sap Flow and Collection Overview (2 min.)

A simple explanation of the freezing and thawing conditions required for maple sap to flow. The video also explores sap collection methods, including buckets and tubing. This short video was brought to you by the New York State Maple Syrup Producers Association in collaboration with Cornell University Maple Program.

Collecting Sap with a Bucket (3 min.)

Michael Farrell, former director of Cornell University’s Uihlein Forest, taps a maple tree and uses a bucket to collect the sap. Today, large scale operations use plastic tubing, but for the small-scale maple producer, a bucket or a bag works well. Tools include a drill, 5/16 inch drill bit, a spile and a bucket with a lid.

Introduction to Collecting Sap with a Bag (4 min.)

Michael Farrell, former director of Cornell University’s Uihlein Forest, taps a maple tree and collects the sap with a bag. Similar to collection via bucket, a bag is also ideal for a small maple producer. Large scale operations use plastic tubing for more efficient collection of sap from the sugar bush.

Turning Maple Sap into Syrup

Turning Maple Sap into Syrup (2 min)

Maple syrup production takes a lot of time and energy to get from sap to finished product. Modern maple producers speed up the process and reduce energy consumption by filtering out at least half of the water in sap with reverse osmosis machines. Reverse osmosis reduces the processing time and energy requirements by 50-90%. This short video was brought to you by the New York State Maple Syrup Producers Association in collaboration with Cornell University Maple Program.

How to know when sap turns into syrup?

This video from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Maple Syrup Production & Food Safety Program demonstrates how to use different tools to know when maple sap becomes safe and shelf stable maple syrup.

Saving Energy and Time with Reverse Osmosis (2 min)

Maple syrup production takes a lot of time and energy to get from sap to finished product. Modern maple producers speed up the process and reduce energy consumption by filtering out at least half of the water in sap with reverse osmosis machines. Reverse osmosis reduces the processing time and energy requirements by 50-90%. This short video was brought to you by the New York State Maple Syrup Producers Association in collaboration with Cornell University Maple Program.

Filtering and Bottling Maple Syrup

Once your sap has reached the correct sugar content, it’s time to filter and bottle your maple syrup. The resources below help explain when maple syrup is finished cooking, and how to ensure you end up with a clear, delicious, and shelf stable final product.

Filtering Maple Syrup

This video from the University of Vermont Extension Maple Program & Proctor Maple Research Center explores methods, tips, and hints to properly filter maple syrup to achieve clarity.
Blog: How to Bottle Your Maple Syrup

Maple Syrup Production

This 10 min. video from the Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producer’s Association (WMSPA) provides an introduction to the process and equipment required to make maple syrup.

Learn more about the WMSPA at wismaple.org

Wisconsin Maple Syrup

The Maple Syrup Process

From Tree to Table

This 1 hour presentation, by UW-Madison Extension Natural Resources Educator Bill Klase, walks through the basics of making maple syrup, from tree to table.

Learn more about the Extension Forestry program at woodlandinfo.org

Additional Resources

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Getting Ready for Sugaring Season (48 min)

WI Maple Hour: Getting Ready for Sugaring Season

Jim Adamski, sales consultant with CDL Wisconsin, shares pre-season preparation tips for all aspects of your maple syrup operation. Read the summary article HERE.

WI Maple Hour Recording: Getting Ready for Sugaring Season (Dec. 2023)

End of Sugaring Season Clean-up

WI Maple Hour: End of Season Clean-up (28 min)

Theresa Baroun, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association, joins the Maple Hour to discuss end-of-season cleanup for all aspects of your maple operation. Read the summary article HERE.

WI Maple Hour Recording: Getting Ready for Sugaring Season (Dec. 2023)

Additional Resources:

Energy Considerations

Maple syrup production is an energy-intensive process. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in Ontario, Canada, it takes 400,000 to 500,000 BTUs of energy to produce one gallon of maple syrup (equivalent to 2.7 to 3.4 gallons of fuel oil or 0.06 to 0.08 face cords of maple firewood/gallon of syrup). Energy is a major component in the cost of production, accounting for 26 to 34% of the production costs without reverse osmosis and 8 to 11% with reverse osmosis based on using wood or fuel oil, respectively. For ideas and resources on energy efficiency in maple syrup operations, check out our maple syrup energy site.

WI Maple Hour: Energy Efficiency (48 min)

Beth Peterson, Assistant State Conservation Engineer with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Bethany Reinholtz, Project Manager with GSD Associates join the Maple Hour to discuss energy efficiency projects for maple syrup operations and financial assistance to help make them happen.

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Other internal resource pages

Sugarbush Forestry

Check out our ‘Sugarbush Forestry’ page for resources about managing your sugarbush for health and resiliency to ensure consistent sap production now and into the future.

Selling Maple Products

If you’re interested in turning your passion for maple syrup into a business, our ‘Selling Maple Products’ page has some great resources to get you started.

Other helpful links

Many other organizations and state Extension programs have good information on maple syrup production. Here are a few that we recommend:

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