The American red maple does produce sap that can be used to make syrup. It is not as sweet tasting as other maples. Sugar maples are primarily used for syrup-making because of their high sugar content. Black Maples produce sap that is just as sweet. American red maples come in third place as a preferred maple by syrup-makers. Tapping is reserved for trees with at least 12-inch trunks—the bigger the tree, the more it can be tapped.