Syrup time once again

• Dec 19, 2014

• #1

3fifty7

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As the sugar cane harvest draws to a close it's time we make a batch of syrup.
Grinding two 16' trailers of cane, variety 838. Just a few stalks at a time. Yielded approx 90 gallons of juice.

The raw juice is pumped into a settling tank then screened twice before filling the pan.

Stoking up a good fire to bring the juice to a boil for around 6 hours.

The raw juice has a green tint but will turn golden as it cooks and the impurities are skimmed of the top.

Now you can see the color change.

Showing 34 on the hydrometer, time to kill the fire.

Draw it down into another tank to get ready to can.

I missed getting a pic of the canning process.
It yielded 24 gallons of goodness.

 

• Dec 19, 2014

• #2

whbonney26

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Yall's is much nicer than our set up but they work about the same way.

We usually do a big batch on Thanksgiving day.

 

• Dec 19, 2014

• #3

Pas Tout La

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Very cool! Thanks for sharing.

 

• Dec 19, 2014

• #4

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dirty_sanchez

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Thanks for sharing. I'm in all of the mills with my job, but haven't seen the syrup making process.

Again, thanks for sharing!

Dirty

 

• Dec 19, 2014

• #5

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Labeeman

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We are making our last batch tomorrow. We've made around 7-8 this year. I love your set up. May have to borrow some ideas from the pics. Have a great Christmas.

 

• Dec 19, 2014

• #6

3fifty7

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Bunkie

Thanks for the replies. The mill we use came from the Meeker Sugar Mill where my grandfather was president. It was the sample mill to run tests for the lab so the farmer could be paid based on the sugar content of their load. It's stamped 1935.

Please post up pics of anyone else making syrup.

"Thanks for sharing. I'm in all of the mills with my job, but haven't seen the syrup making process."
Dirty, what area do you work in. I worked at Cajun Sugar Coop in New Iberia for a year and my best friend works at Alma plantation in New Roads.

 

Last edited: Dec 19, 2014

• Dec 19, 2014

• #7

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N4sir

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Hmmmm..... I may need some.
Does anyone make molassas?

 

• Dec 19, 2014

• #8

whitsend

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Two questions...........Who has some for sale? Will you ship to north Louisiana?

 

• Dec 19, 2014

• #9

Fred_G

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Well, now I know what is for breakfast/lunch Sunday. Pancakes, bacon and eggs.

Cool pictures.

 

• Dec 19, 2014

• #10

Pocket

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whitsend said:

Two questions...........Who has some for sale? Will you ship to north Louisiana?

Click to expand...

+1 except I'm in Prairieville

 

• Dec 19, 2014

• #11

rtr_rtr

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Very cool! All it has to do is be extracted then cooked down / strained? Anything else to it?

 

• Dec 19, 2014

• #12

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N4sir

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Heck, I could pick it up in Bunkie! Need something from New Orleans?

 

• Dec 19, 2014

• #13

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dirty_sanchez

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So you slow cook the water out of the sugar juice until the hygrometer measures 34? What..34% water content?

I worked....operative word...worked for Loctite for the last 13 years until a few weeks ago.

Dirty

 

• Dec 20, 2014

• #14

3fifty7

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Hydrometers are used to measure the density/specific gravity of a given liquid vs that of water.
All I know is I've been told for years to kill the fire as soon as it hits 34, haha!
The higher the reading the more dense the liquid is.
I'm sure they are used in home beer brewing and many other applications.

 

• Dec 20, 2014

• #15

Barney88PDC

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So does this make a dark heavy syrup like Steen's or a lighter less viscuous syrup like say maple?

 

• Dec 20, 2014

• #16

charlie12

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Thanks for the post I enjoyed it.
I have about a half gallon a friend made and gave me.

Don't give N4sir any he would just cook something and make us more hungry than he already does

 

• Dec 21, 2014

• #17

3fifty7

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Barney88PDC said:

So does this make a dark heavy syrup like Steen's or a lighter less viscuous syrup like say maple?

Click to expand...

It does vary a little batch to batch depending on the quality of the cane, temp and duration of the cooking process and other factors. It will most always be lighter in color and viscosity then Steens. If I can come across a jar I'll do a drop test on a white plate between them.