filtered maple at right, unfiltered box elder left.
the “white sand” at bottom of box elder is dissolved minerals that are forced to drop out of solution as water is removed.
The flavor of this “early” flow syrup is bizzare. Vanilla cotton candy or some such.
Maple forums say this is not too unusual. As season progresses it’s supposed to start tasting more like classic maple.
Fascinating stuff. Many producers keep this early stuff for themselves.
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the brix of saps using hydrometer
maple sap at top
boxelder at bottom
I think I might have a couple stud sugar maples!