Refractometer for
Testing Maple Syrup

Refractometer for
Testing Maple Syrup

From Tap to Bottle; eMaple Refractometer Makes Maple Syrup Testing Easy.

The eMaple Digital Maple Syrup Refractometer can be used at the tree tap or tank for testing maple sap, for pre-processing monitoring of reverse osmosis, in the sugar shack to determine when to draw from the boiler, or during testing and bottling.

The measurement of sugar content in maple sap or maple syrup is not just a matter of convenience; it is also essential for controlling syrup taste, product quality, and for legal purposes. The principal unit of measure the maple syrup producer is interested in is degrees Brix. Brix is a measure of the percentage of sucrose, by weight, dissolved in a sucrose/water solution. In maple sap and maple syrup, 98% or more of the dissolved solids are sucrose, so the Brix scale is very applicable to maple syrup measurement.

Regionally, there are different standards for maple syrup sugar content. The range is usually between 66 to 68 Brix. If a product drops below 66 Brix, there is a risk of fermentation, and above 68 Brix, there is a risk that some of the dissolved sugar will come out of solution as the maple syrup cools.

Hydrometers have long been used in maple syrup testing; however, a refractometer is more accurate than a hydrometer, requires a smaller sample size, eliminates sources of error, is easily cleaned, and reduces the time it takes to measure maple sap and maple syrup.