Birch sap tapping kit with 10-litre bucket and 4 containers

• Tapping bucket capacity: 10 litres
• Storage capacity in containers: 20 litres in total
• Hose length: 1 metre
• Hose material: PVC
• Drill diameter: 9 mm (for the included spile)
• Food contact: All parts are approved for contact with food

• 1 × white 10-litre tapping bucket with handle and lid – the lid is pre-drilled for the tapping hose
• 4 × 5-litre plastic containers with white screw caps – for collecting and storing the birch sap
• 1 metre of PVC hose – to lead the sap from the tree to the tapping bucket
• 1 × plastic spile – fitted into the hole drilled in the birch tree
• 2 × wooden dowels – for closing tap holes after use if you wish

Tapping season

Birch sap is tapped in early spring, when the sap starts rising in the trees and before the leaves come out. In Denmark this is typically from March to April, depending on the weather.

The birch sap kit is used to tap fresh birch sap straight from birch trees in early spring.

The collected birch sap can be drunk fresh or chilled and used for cooking, baking, sorbet, making birch syrup and home brewing, among other things.

How to tap birch sap

1. Choose a healthy, well-established birch tree with a suitable trunk diameter. Avoid young, weakened or damaged trees, and choose an even part of the trunk without knots or visible damage.
2. Drill a hole with a 9 mm drill bit, for example approx. 70–80 cm above the ground. Drill slightly upwards and only as deep as needed to fit the spile.
3. Carefully remove the drill dust from the hole and tap the smooth end of the spile into the tree with a few light blows of a hammer.
4. If needed, soften one end of the PVC hose briefly in hot water so it is easier to fit.
5. Fit the hose onto the ribbed end of the spile and feed the other end through the hole in the lid of the tapping bucket.
6. Check the collection once or twice a day and transfer the fresh sap to clean containers. Refrigerate the sap as soon as possible.
7. When you finish tapping, carefully remove the spile. Wooden dowels are included for closing the tap hole if you wish, but opinions differ on whether closing it with a dowel is best for the tree.

See also our introduction to tapping birch sap:

https://youtube.com/shorts/AyHQkwey5ek

Clean all equipment thoroughly before tapping, so the birch sap is not contaminated during collection.

Wash the tapping bucket, containers, hose and spile before use and when moving the equipment between trees. Pay particular attention to the hose and the spile, where sap residue can build up.

For cleaning you can use Chemipro Oxi (item no. 3018) according to the product instructions. Only use cleaning and disinfection methods that the individual plastic parts can withstand.

After tapping, clean and dry the equipment thoroughly before putting it away for the next season.

Only tap birch sap from trees you own yourself or where you have the owner's permission.

Choose healthy, well-established birch trees and avoid tapping young, weakened or damaged trees. Do not reuse old tap holes.

Tapping is an intervention in the tree that can cause damage or increase the risk of infection. The right approach depends on, among other things, the size and condition of the tree.

Wooden dowels are included for closing the tap hole if you wish. Opinions differ on whether closing it with a dowel is advisable.

Fresh birch sap is highly perishable and should be kept in the fridge immediately after tapping. It typically keeps for about 5 days when stored cold and with good hygiene.

Birch sap can also be frozen so you can enjoy it outside the tapping season. Use suitable plastic containers or freezer-safe bag-in-box bags, and do not fill the containers completely, as the sap expands when frozen.

After thawing, keep the birch sap in the fridge and use it within a few days. Discard the sap if it develops an unusual smell, taste or appearance.