Beginning

Grinding (niǎn), this pinyin reminds me of my childhood memories in the countryside. Whenever the crops were harvested, the village amahs would take out the old stone mill and start to get busy. The sound of that grinding is like an ancient music that echoes throughout the village. Today, I want to take you to explore the world of grinding.

The history of the mill

The birth of the stone mill

The stone mill is one of the earliest grinding tools used by mankind, and its birth can be traced back to the Neolithic period thousands of years ago. At that time, it was discovered that hard stones could be used to process food and make it easier to digest. Thus, the stone mill began to enter people's lives.

The Evolution of the Mill

With the development of the times, people's requirements for grinding tools became higher and higher. In ancient times, stone mills gradually evolved into water mills, wind mills and other forms. The water mill uses water power to drive the rotation of the mill, and the wind mill uses the kinetic energy generated by the wind to grind. These new grinding tools not only improved productivity, but also reduced people's labor intensity.

Applications of Milling

Grain Processing

The main application of milling in rural areas is grain processing. Farmers put the harvested grains into a stone mill and then turn the mill disk with force to grind the grains into powder. Such powder can be used to make pasta, pastries and other foods, providing farmers with a rich source of food.

Medicinal herb grinding

In addition to grain processing, mills also play an important role in the grinding of medicinal herbs. Many herbs need to be milled in order to realize their medicinal effects. Traditional stone mills are able to grind herbs into a fine powder for easy use.

Raw material preparation

Milling can also be used for the preparation of raw materials. For example, in the process of ceramics making, clay needs to be ground into fine particles and then molded. And the stone mill is one of the most commonly used tools.

Operating steps of the mill

Preparation

Before using the stone mill, you need to carry out some preparatory work. First, clean the stone mill so that impurities do not contaminate the food. Secondly, prepare the materials to be ground, such as grains, herbs and so on. Finally, it is necessary to check whether the rotation of the grinding disk is flexible to ensure the effect of grinding.

Grinding process

Put the prepared materials into the stone mill and then turn the grinding disk with force. In the process of turning, pay attention to maintain an even strength and speed, so as not to grind unevenly. At the same time, keep adding the right amount of water to keep the grinding disk moist and reduce wear and tear.

Checking the results

After the grinding is completed, the results of grinding should be checked. First, check whether the ground material has reached the desired fineness. Secondly, it is necessary to check whether the grinding disk has wear or impurities. Finally, the ground material should be stored to avoid moisture or deterioration.

Conclusion

After this exploration, I have a better understanding of milling. The mill is not only a tool, but also a cultural heritage. Whether it is the stone mill in the countryside or the modern pulverizer, they are silently providing convenience for our life. May we cherish these tools, pass on this wisdom, and let the sound of the mill echo in our memories forever.

References

1. Traditional Chinese Agricultural Tools, by Li Mei, Publisher: China Agricultural Press, 2015.

2. "The Evolution and Application of Stone Mill", by Zhang Lei, Publisher: Science Press, 2012.

3. Grinding Technology of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Author: Wang Ming, Publisher: China Traditional Chinese Medicine Press, 2008.