How to press oil in ancient times: the crystallization of traditional craftsmanship and historical wisdom
In modern society, cooking oil is an indispensable necessity in daily life, but have you ever wondered how ancient people extracted cooking oil? Although ancient oil-pressing technology is crude, it contains rich wisdom and practical experience. This article will give you an in-depth understanding of the ancient oil-pressing process, tools and historical background, and display relevant content through structured data.
1. The main methods of oil extraction in ancient times
In ancient times, oil extraction mainly relied on physical pressing methods. According to the characteristics of different regions and oil crops, a variety of oil extraction methods were developed. The following are several common ancient methods of extracting oil:
| Oil extraction method | Tools and Crafts | Applicable oil |
|---|---|---|
| stone crushing method | Use a stone mill to crush the oil and then press it through a wood or stone press. | sesame, peanut |
| Wood pressing method | Use wooden pressing tools to pressurize by human or animal power | Soybeans, rapeseed |
| Water grinding method | The oil is crushed with the help of water-driven millstones and then pressed | Tea seeds, castor beans |
2. Tools and techniques for oil extraction in ancient times
Although ancient oil-pressing tools are simple, they are exquisitely designed and can extract oil efficiently. The following are several common oil extraction tools and their characteristics:
| Tool name | Material | Function |
|---|---|---|
| stone mill | Stone | Crush oil seeds for subsequent pressing |
| wood press | hardwood | Pressing oil through the lever principle |
| Oil tank | stone or wood | Collect the pressed oil |
3. The historical development of oil pressing in ancient times
Oil extraction technology has a long history in China. As early as the Han Dynasty, people began to use stone crushing to press sesame oil; during the Tang and Song Dynasties, the wood pressing method gradually became popular; during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, oil pressing technology further matured and a regional oil pressing industry was formed. The following are the key time points for the development of ancient oil extraction technology:
| dynasty | Progress in oil extraction technology |
|---|---|
| Han Dynasty | The stone crushing method appeared, mainly used for sesame oil. |
| Tang Dynasty | The wood pressing method became popular and the pressing efficiency increased. |
| Song Dynasty | Water grinding method is used in oil extraction to save manpower |
| Ming and Qing Dynasties | Oil-pressing workshops are scaled up to form a regional industry |
4. Limitations of ancient oil pressing
Although ancient oil extraction technology has certain practicality, it also has some limitations:
| limitations | Reason |
|---|---|
| Low oil yield | The pressing technology is not perfect enough and there is a lot of oil residue. |
| High labor intensity | Relying on human or animal power, inefficient |
| Oil purity is not high | Lack of modern filtration technology and more impurities |
5. Modern Enlightenment of Ancient Oil Pressing
Although ancient oil extraction technology is simple, its eco-friendly and low energy consumption characteristics still have implications for modern oil extraction technology. For example, the traditional wood pressing method does not use chemical solvents and retains the natural flavor of oil. Today, some high-end edible oil brands still use similar processes.
Through the study of ancient oil-pressing technology, we can not only understand the wisdom of the ancients, but also provide reference for the modern food industry. Whether it is stone mills, wood presses or water mills, these ancient tools and technologies are an important part of Chinese civilization.
I hope this article will give you a deeper understanding of ancient oil extraction techniques!
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