Birch sap, the blessing given to the people by the beautiful Mother nature or a gun handed to us to kill it? It might sound harsh at first, but when you look at it from a deeper perspective, you can understand it.
Birch sap is incredibly healthy, but it’s the commercial harvesting of it which might force us to face the ugly truth.
Let’s first figure out what birch sap actually is; it’s a unique solution of nutrients produced by birch trees on a yearly cycle. It’s a slightly acidic (pH between 5.5 and 7.5) mixture of 99% water and 1% sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose), organic acids, free amino acids, minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium and manganese), and also small amounts of protein and vitamin C.
Every year in spring the tree begins drawing the water up through the roots, where it mixes with the sugars and then travels upwards with the task to revitalise the tree in spring and let it become green again. In summer, the tree replenishes the sugars for the following year.
By now you have probably already figured out that birch sap is, in fact, the tree’s blood. The vital liquid flowing in its body, which allows it to grow fresh green leaves which then continue the production of sugars needed for the tree to survive. When we take that life fluid, we need to be incredibly careful when or how we do it.
WHEN DO WE TAP BIRCH SAP?
Let’s first touch the topic of ‘when’. We already stated that in spring the tree ‘wakes up’ from it’s long winter rest, starts to draw up the water and mixes it with the sugars to create the magic potion. The right time to tap the birch sap is right after the freezing temperatures stop and before the tree starts budding the fresh leaves. It is then that the tree produces the biggest surplus of the birch sap. Healthy birch trees can produce 50- 500 litres of sap every day!
HOW TO TAP BIRCH SAP?
You’re going to need a straw(use a metal, reusable one), a drilling tool, a drill in the width/circumference of a straw, a bottle and a rope. We start by finding a healthy birch tree. (Let me put down a small reminder here that this should be only done on the trees that are on your property or with a permission of the owner.) And then we try to find a spot where the bark is the thinnest, so it’ll be the easiest to get to the right depth. Then, you drill a hole, slightly upwards into the tree. You might need to go in very shallow or very deep, depending on the tree, but when it’s deep enough, you’ll know immediately as the clear birch sap will start flowing out. You clean the hole of wood debris as much as you can before putting in the straw and tying the bottle around the tree so the sap flows in and gathers with time. Remember to check on the bottle as it might fill up faster than expected and then what flows over will go to waste.
When you’re done with the tapping – before the buds sprout – DO NOT FORGET to plug the hole with a (preferably sterile) dowl, to prevent further bleeding of the tree!
WHY DO WE NEED BIRCH SAP?
It’s called ‘The elixir of life’.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Birch water offers numerous nutrients like magnesium and manganese. Additionally, birch water provides small amounts of amino acids and large amounts of polyphenol antioxidants, which help fight oxidative stress in your body. This essential mineral – manganese – is vital for bone development and maintenance. In fact, studies have shown that when combined with calcium, zinc, and copper — all of which are found in birch water — manganese may help reduce spinal bone loss in older women.
While specific amounts vary, birch water is high in polyphenol antioxidants, which protect your cells against damage from unstable molecules called free radicals. Research suggests that polyphenols may safeguard against several conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and even certain forms of cancer.
Birch water likewise contains vitamin C, which functions as a potent antioxidant.
SKIN BENEFITS
Birch water has become a popular ingredient in lotions and other cosmetics due to its hydrating and antioxidant properties.
One test-tube study found that replacing water with birch sap in a skin care product significantly increased the production of skin cells, suggesting that the sap may help keep your skin healthy and rejuvenated.
These benefits may be partly due to birch water’s vitamin C content, which has been shown to stimulate the production of collagen — a protein that helps keep your skin strong, elastic, and hydrated.
Additionally, vitamin C protects your skin against harmful UV rays, which can cause wrinkles and other signs of ageing
HAIR BENEFITS
Because it aids collagen production and iron absorption, the vitamin C in birch water may strengthen your hair.
Research demonstrates that both collagen and iron support hair growth and structure. Additionally, vitamin C protects against free radicals, which can damage hair cells and prevent hair growth.
SAFETY!
Birch water is generally considered safe when consumed in moderation. Anyone allergic to birch pollen should be cautious when trying birch water. Additionally, it’s best to limit your intake, as birch water carries a risk of manganese toxicity. This can be especially dangerous for people with impaired liver function.
Now, how harmful it actually is for the provider – the tree?
When you do a quick online search, you get various results. Most are either ‘you’re inevitably killing the tree’ or ‘it’s completely harmless’. Various studies has been done on the topic and I’ve read a couple to provide a more detailed insight.
It definitely isn’t to be compared with the loved maple trees and maple syrup, as birch trees have a much lower tolerance to wounding and then mending back the damaged place.
A study in 2007 reported in a literature review by Lori Trummer and Tom Malone found that a sample of 21 trees that had been tapped all showed sapwood red heart staining (regardless of how many times they’d been tapped) and 9 of the trees showed signs of decay at the tap holes.
Keep in mind also, that this guide was done specifically for home use. Birch sap has been growing in popularity for the past few years and so it’s being commercially harvested in unimaginable amounts.
In conclusion – It is still definitely more environmentally friendly to tap a few litres of the healthy sap from the birch tree on your property each year than buying a single bottle of commercially harvested birch sap.
Leia 15. March 2022
One thought on “Birch Sap; Spring’s True Blessing”
Thanks for your blog, nice to read. Do not stop.