1Birch sap is the liquid that flows through the birch trees in the spring.
2It looks clear like water and it has a very sweet and fresh taste.
3Here in Sweden, it's been used for hundreds of years because of its health benefits
4and back in time they said "Dricka märg i benen"
5which means drink marrow into the bones.
6Drinking birch sap was a way of regaining energy after a long winter
7and it's really true.
8Birch sap contains lots of good vitamins and minerals.
9And for me it's now a tradition to tap birch sap every spring
10and I drink it almost every day during the month of May.
11That is actually one of the most wonderful things I know about spring:
12to collect a full bottle of birch sap in the evenings
13and have a first sip of it under the trees while listening to all the songs of the birds.
14In this video I will show you step by step how to tap birch sap.
15But remember if you don't have your own garden or land with birch trees,
16make sure to ask the owner of the land for permission before you tap from a tree.
17And tapping birch sap is something that is only done about three to four weeks during the early spring
18from the time the frozen ground has melted
19until the leaves of the birch trees start to bloom out.
20Depending on where you live it's usually sometime between March and the end of May.
21You can tap birch sap in two different ways
22and the first way I'm gonna show you is really simple and fast
23but it doesn't give you that much birch sap.
24But it's perfect if you just wanna try it out really quick.
25Just cut off a branch from a birch tree
26and then tie a bottle over it and make sure to tie it hard enough so it won't fall down from the weight of the sap.
27Leave the bottle for a few hours and hopefully it will be full when you get back.
28The other way I'm gonna show you is how I usually do
29because it's more effective and it gives you much more birch sap.
30But it's important to do it the right way so you don't hurt the tree.
31The first step is to drill a small hole into the tree that goes slightly upwards
32about two to three centimeters into the tree.
33Then put in a pipe or a straw in the same size as the hole
34and you will immediately notice if it works.
35Tie a bottle or a can around the tree and make sure it's really stuck and can carry the weight when it's full.
36Then leave it for a few hours.
37I usually do it before I go to sleep so I have fresh birch sap in the mornings.
38When you arrive the next time, the can should be full.
39Usually you can tap several liters from a tree.
40but if you feel done tapping from the tree,
41the most important part is to plug the hole.
42If you don't do that correctly the tree will continue to bleed and it can cause infections.
43The best way is to carve a stick that is a little bit bigger than the hole
44and then put it in with the help of a hammer.
45Make sure to check that it's really tight so no sap are coming out.
46Pour the birch sap into a bottle
47and if you keep it in the fridge, it can last for about three to five days.
48You can also put it in the freezer if you want to enjoy it later
49but I have actually never tried that.
50I think it's something beautiful with only drinking it now in the spring.