How much can one tree produce?
Well, that will depend on a few things, including weather conditions and the size, age and health of the tree. Most trees today have only one tap; only those with an 80-inch or greater circumference generally get two taps. On average, a tapped maple will produce 10 to 20 gallons of sap per tap.
And as long as a tree remains healthy, it should continue to produce sap for years if not decades. In fact, some trees have been producing sap for more than 100 years! A healthy tree, when properly tapped, should not suffer any adverse health effects and should be able to produce sap for many years to come.
A Sticky Situation: Tapping Into the Sweet Effort Behind Every Drop of Maple Syrup
Keep in mind that it takes approximately 40 gallons of sap to produce just one delicious gallon of fresh maple syrup! We should point out, however, that the sugar concentration of the sap can vary from 1 percent to as high as 5 percent, and this will drastically impact how much sap it takes to produce a gallon of syrup. For example, 2 percent sap takes 40 gallons to make one gallon of syrup – but you seldom get a tree that makes that. It tends to vary through the season, also, with sugar concentration falling lower as the season progresses. Just something to think about!