Sessional_Paper_1898 — Page 620

[ XLIII]

Ching Chau, or Sam Ching Chau forms a part, and also to the liquor known as Fa Chau,-a spirit obtained from molasses, and to the beverages prepared from Ta Chan; but in this report Samshu should be under- stood to mean only Leu Pun Chau, Sheung Ching Chau, and Sam Ching Chau.

There are three well-known varieties of samshu:---

1. Leu Pun Chau (half materials liquor) or Mei Chau (rice liquor).

2. Sheung Ching Chau or twice distilled liquor.

3. Sam Ching Chau or thrice distilled liquor.

These three kinds are not made by all distilleries; in several of the nine samshu distilleries in Hongkong only Leu Pun Chau is made.

LEU PUN CHAU.

To make Leu Pun Chau the chief beverage 180 catties of rice are mixed with 180 catties of water and the mixture is placed in an iron pan heated direct by means of a wood fire and boiled for half an hour. The softened rice is spread out on a large wooden tray placed at an angle so that the rice water drains away. The cooled rice is now put into twenty pots together with the rice water. To each pot is added one and a half catties of a substance known as Chau Pang together with 10 catties of water. Chau Pang is a substance composed of rice, bean flour, red earth, and leaves which are stated to be cassia leaves. It is imported from Canton, but it is manufactured in Honam. Chau Pang is usually in dry flat cakes about 8 inches square by 1 inch thick. An analysis showed that 100 parts contain :-

Moistura,...

Ash,

7.24

44.01

Chau Pang is the fermenting material, It has no particular odour. The mixture of rice, Chau Pang, and water is allowed to stand for a period varying from 23 to 28 days, after which the contents of three pots are transferred to a still heated direct by means of wood. The still is composed of three parts.

1. A circular iron pan furnished with an iron cover in the centre of which is a large orifice. On the top of this perforated cover is

2. The Adapter which is merely a coil of cane plaited very thickly and closely so as to be impervious to moisture. Sometimes two or more Adapters are used. On the top of the Adapter is

3. The Condenser, which is a cylindrical metal apparatus greatly resembling an alembic with a reservoir above the upper surface of the alembic to contain water for cooling purposes. A piece of metal piping carries off the spirit which has been condensed and run down into the upturned inner rim of the alembic, while a much larger piece of piping serves to let out the water from the reservoir which serves as ɛ con- denser (see figure).

The contents of the three pots having been put into the pan, a rope basket containing thick, crude, earth nut oil is situated on the Adapter by means of a piece of wood so as to swing in the orifice of the pan. This arrangement is to prevent bumping and spurting. The Condenser is then put in position, and the reservoir having been filled with water, the distillation commences. The weight of water in the Condenser keeps it firmly pressed on to the Adapter. Thirty catties of samshu are collected in about one and a half hours. The water in the Condenser is changed three times during this period, the hot water being run off completely from the bottom by the large pipe in a few seconds. The distillation being finished, the pan is almost emptied of its contents by means of a large ladle, three more pots of liquid are emptied into it, and another distillation proceeds. Thus it will be seen that to make 200 catties of Leu Puu Chau it is necessary to take-

Rice,

Chau Pang,

180 catties.

30 catties.

To distil this quantity 200 catties of firewood are allowed.

SHEUNG CHING CHAU.

This liquid is a little stronger than Leu Pun Chau. It is made by placing in the still 3 pots of the usual fermented liquid and 10 catties of Leu Pun Chau and distilling 30 catties.

*One catty =

pounds (Avoir.)