Birch sap

[Kase]

Whilst I was babysitting tonight I was watching Ray Mears bushcraft, he was looking at what could be found in Britain according to what season it was. It started off in March and he was collecting Birch sap.

I was just wondering if anyone here had tried it before, if so what did it taste like?

Here are some articles I found anyway,

http://www.hs.fi/english/article/1101979291529

http://www.whitedragon.org.uk/articles/lady.htm

 

[SummerRiot]

Hmm I have never heard of Birch trees getting their saps collected.. I have heard of Maple trees and such..

my van likes to collect pine sap on the windsheild lol

That first article is interesting!! I never knew birch sap speeds your moltabolism up!

 

[Kase]

That first article is interesting!! I never knew birch sap speeds your moltabolism up!

I didn't either, I think I might be trying some now though .

 

[GlassOnion]

No idea, but I do know that pine tree sap tastes like crap. Smells good though.

Cedar sap isn't very tasty either. Next time I see a birch tree I'll get some sap and taste it.


Gotta find out what a birch tree looks like first though..

 

[Kase]

Here you go .

http://www.british-trees.com/guide/silverbirch.htm

 

[GlassOnion]

Interesting...wonder if they grow in the US? Doesn't say on the site. I couldn't imagine them not growing here, though.

 

[SummerRiot]

We have two birch trees in my front yard, along with one apple blosson tree in the back and two unknowns that have beautiful flowers lol

maybe I'll tap the one birch in the front lmao!

 

[GlassOnion]

Yes, go outside and kick it or something and make it sap up. I'm really curious and asked some friends if they had birch trees.

Alas, they don't. But it makes for a good off-the-wall conversation starter if you ever need one.

 

[AndrewF]

Interesting...wonder if they grow in the US? Doesn't say on the site. I couldn't imagine them not growing here, though.

They should. I can only think of one type of european elm which can't grow in North American soil so you see it grafted to the trunks of white elm (IIRC). Birch should all be good.

 

[springer spaniel]

It does'nt taste all that bad but make sure you take it from the right tree

 

[DanL]

Birch beer is a great soft drink. I'm not sure if it's a regional thing here in the US or not, but it's tasty.

 

[Kase]

Alas, they don't. But it makes for a good off-the-wall conversation starter if you ever need one.

I wonder how long you could keep that conversation going .


I'm really interested in trying some now, birch beer sounds great. I have my own silver birch which someone bought me for my 18th but it's very young so I'm not going to try anything.

 

[Kase]

Just thought I'd add this, it has a map.


Common Silver Birch
Betulaceae
Betula verrucosa

Photo: Common Silver Birch

Birch bark and wood is waterproof which the North American Indians took advantage of when building canoes and wigwams. It has always had a special significance for festivals and rituals. It is never dark in a birch forest and in folk tradition birch is said to have a purifying effect. Silver birch is a single-stemmed, deciduous tree up to about 25 metres. The bark is smooth and slivery white, becoming black and fissured into rectangular bosses. Birch is a small to medium-sized tree found in woods, on heaths and often cultivated.

Map: Sites of Silver BirchSilver birch is native and common in most of Europe, northwest Africa and western Siberia. It is the most common tree found in Scandinavia and the Alps and a potent pollen producer in those areas. Closely related species are found in East Asia and North America. It follows the mountain chain from North America down into the Andes.

 

[Dizzy]

Ray Mears is a man I would LOVE to meet.

And go camping with. He is like a god

 

[Kase]

Ray Mears is a man I would LOVE to meet.

And go camping with. He is like a god

Hey he's mine, keep your hands off of him . I love his shows.

 

[Dizzy]

Oooh - I think we could come to some arrangement

And besides, I only want him for his mind - you can keep the rest of him!

lol

 

[Kase]

Oooh - I think we could come to some arrangement

And besides, I only want him for his mind - you can keep the rest of him!

lol

Haha lol deal .

 

[Dizzy]

 

[Kase]

Whats not to like, living in the wilderness with a guy like that. I'd be very content .

 

[Dizzy]

Hehehe

I can't see him being interested erecting anything but a tent though!!! LOL

Who knows he might be an animal deep down inside