Extracting and selling organic birch sap in Lithuania

Abstract

Birch sap can be used as a replacement for soft drinks. In order to obtain the final product, organic birch sap, it is necessary to follow two steps. First – extraction of organic birch sap. It is done in the forest stands which are selected in accordance to the requirements of the state enterprise "Ekoagros". This enterprise is able to issue a certificate of organic production. The equipment used for sap extraction is made by a patent No. LT 5813 B, using certified materials. While harvesting sap a time interval of no longer than 2 days between extraction and delivery of processing plant was established. If it takes longer, fermentation of the sap may begin which impacts the quality of a product. In order to meet the needs of a processing company, larger amounts of sap needs to be accumulated. Extracting this amount usually takes more than 2 days therefore the sap needs to be refrigerated. The sap is stored in industrial refrigerators, at a temperature of 2–3°C. Currently an experiment replacing refrigeration with ozonation of sap is being tested as a possible alternative. The second stage – processing and selling raw sap. It is now done by the company "Straikas" which is certified to process organic sap and make organic products. The product they make out of the raw sap extracted is called "sip sap" and is available in every larger supermarket in Lithuania. Scientific studies and manufacturing of the product between 2013- 2017 creates the premise for the development of birch sap industry in Lithuania, suggesting that it is a high quality product which can in legitimately produce to the potential to replace soft drinks some of which contains synthetic additives.