Collect sap from sugar maple trees in late winter or early spring
Drill a small tap hole into the tree and insert a spile
Hang or connect a clean container to collect the sap
Gather sap regularly and keep it cold
Strain the sap to remove debris
Boil the sap in a large, wide pan to evaporate water
Add more sap as the level drops until all sap is processed
Continue boiling until the syrup reaches about 7°F above the boiling point of water
Check the syrup thickness and temperature carefully
Filter the finished syrup to remove sugar sand
Bottle the syrup while hot in sterilized containers
Seal and store the maple syrup properly