How to collect birch sap from a branch - an easy outdoors survival tip that will enhance your wilderness survival skills.

Birch sap is the sap directly tapped from birch trees by drilling a hole into its trunk and leading the sap into a container via some conduit (a tube or simply a thin twig): the sap will flow along it because of the surface tension. The wound is then plugged to minimize infection.

But a bit more easier way to tap a tree is by simply cutting, or even breaking off the end of some thin branches. Put the branches into the neck of a bottle, tie the bottle to the branches and gently weigh them down to make sure the bottle hangs in as upright a position as possible.

Birch water has been used as a refreshing and healthy drink in the early spring in Baltics, Scandinavia and in Russia as well as in China and Canada for centuries. In folk medicine, birch sap is used for several health benefits; birch water is naturally diuretic which helps to clear your body from toxins. What is more, Birch water contains nutrients such as amino acids, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, manganese, zinc, sodium, iron).

Birch sap may be consumed both fresh and naturally fermented. When fresh, it is a clear and uncolored liquid, often slightly sweet with a slightly silky texture. After two to three days, the sap starts fermenting and the taste becomes more acidic. Birch sap has to be collected in early spring before any green leaves have appeared, as in late spring it becomes bitter. The collection period is only about a month per year.

And if you are further interested in how to survive in the wilderness or you intend to advance basic survival skills in the wilderness, check out our channel. There you can learn more about bushcraft camping, cooking over fire, camping tools, survival gadgets and camp cooking equipment among other things.

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