32 Nebraskaland • January-February 2023
throughout the boil-down phase.
The process takes time and produces
a lot of humidity. If you are working
with less than 5 gallons of sap, you can
use your stovetop; otherwise, complete
this step outdoors in a propane turkey
fryer or two. If you are running two
pots at a time outdoors, Hejl estimates
it will take about one hour for each
gallon of sap to boil off .
Hejl recommends fi nishing the boil-
down process on your kitchen stove so
you can closely monitor temperature
ABOVE: Hejl pours the raw sap from
the jugs through a strainer into
5-gallon buckets.
LEFT: Hejl's favorite way to enjoy
black walnut syrup is over ice cream.
JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
