Distillation Process
1350 Words
After Marcel had approached the 3 ladies for the information needed, he came back running to me and exclaimed loudly, "Yes...! We can commence the samples right away. We have eucalyptus where the essential oils could be extracted by pounding them up with a layer of salt over them."
Gwen overheard Marcel and pointed out that eucalyptus may grow as shrubs or trees and the gum from the eucalyptus could be made into tannins or the materials used to make tans in leather. The chances to find eucalyptus here were abundant and there's no short supply at all.
Coincidentally, the herbalist that was tending to the herbal Garden had hauled in a few bushels of harvested eucalyptus leaves ahead of winter during sprint's harvest. Besides, the main uses of eucalyptus leaves were for making cough drops and also as a mosquito repellent ointment.
And now it has extended to become an essence for the Hair wash. Since it was being used as a Hair wash, the ladies decided to use the distillation process to extract the oils in an efficient manner.
Marcel was being the ladies man throughout the morning. He had taken a steamer basket and that steamer basket had been deemed fit only to be used for the distillation process only.
He helped the ladies to measure out the eucalyptus leaves from the chiller and assisted to prepare the distillation process as he lay the required amount of leaves inside the top of the steamer basket. Sufficient ester was filled in the bottom part where the heat from the steam would somehow extract the essence from the eucalyptus leaves and drop back into the steamer.
Marcel was instructed that the leaves need to be tossed once every hour as the water in the steamer pot was brought to a slow boil.
"So how long was it needs to be steamed in order to extract the oils?" Marcel asked as it was quite laborious for him to do it alone.
"Ah...you need to do it till the leaves turned mushed and black. Then you put it inside a clean linen cloth and one of the ladies would help you wring it. What was left inside the steamer pot would be evaporated slowly until it becomes rather thick and slightly sticky."
"Oh...alright then. We can proceed on this and I'd be back every hour to toss it around for you. Besides, is there anything I could do for any of you?"
"Well...you can let us know where we can procure the olive oil or maybe animal fats in bulk. I'm not sure of any other oils but you can check it around for us too. In fact, any light oil of fats that could be used for cooking is the best main ingredient to make this Hair and Body Wash."
"Alright, I get down to it then. Be right back, cheerio..." Marcel waved his hands and walked to Eagle where he needs to send some carrier pigeons messages to the 4 dignitaries as well as to Corral to find out more about the other two types of oil.
During that few days week, the construction for the factory had already gone underway. Ben and Frank had made 40 sets of 5 by 5 wooden moulds that could solidify 25 Hair and Body Wash blocks one time.
A few workers at the woodcutter had also made plenty of wooden crates by using thin ¼ inch planks to store the future pots with lids and the Hair and Body Wash blocks. The fabrication took several minutes to complete each after the wood had been sawn down to size.
Old Jack and the gang of 20 children had already completed some 2,000 of those cute pots with lids within the past few days. Although the work could be hastened, there was no rushing since those pots had to be fired in a slow radiated heat, powered by Farah and the kiln designed by Earl himself.
Since the kiln was a permanent fixture like the ones used for the clay bricks, it was set up close to it but the heat was maintained between 140° to 160° Fahrenheit.
The only difference with the firing of these pots was the position where the products were just placed on top of the kiln like a roast. With low temperature, it would be similar to air drying them but in a quicker process without actually breaking them.
Once the small pots were dry after being placed on the kiln, it was then allowed to cool off naturally before it was packed inside the crates, waiting to be filled and packed accordingly.
Heather asked me regards to a range of multiple products within similar pots and how to distinguish them since the majority doesn't know how to read.
I simply explained, "Just tie a eucalyptus leaf on the string. As for the Hair and Body Wash blocks, the person could smell the fragrance through the linen wrappings."
Heather laughed at her silliness in raising the question and held her belly as she laughed hard. I too touched her tummy and imagined that the twins were both laughing with her. Heather was oohing and aahing since the twins were kicking up a fuss inside her belly that indicates that the twins were hungry.
I laughed at her again and even though she had gained some pounds due to her carrying the twins, Old Kayla informed me that the ones who were eating 75% of the time were mostly the twins as 25% nutrients go to the mother.
I scratched my head when Old Kayla explained it to me and thought she was hungry all the time and that's how she gained the extra pounds. Besides, we were too young to understand the complexity of childbirth during that time.
I went to the construction site of the factory and saw that the foundation of the floor, parts of the sidewalls and the roof bannisters had already been erected.
The tables and benches for the workers had already been prepared as well as the holding area and the raised platform of the staging area. The floor size was maximised by making a second level platform 10 feet off the ground. It was not in the plan but nevertheless, it was perfect...!
The second level of the platform could be used to stack the Hair and Body Wash blocks while they were in their moulds. A plank would be placed on top of a row of moulds to let it 'breathe' when another stack goes on top of the other one.
"Your Majesty, how much olive oil or animal fats that you would be purchasing? It would be placed underneath this platform until further usage at the holding area."
"Well, I need to find out how much it would costs since I was told there was olive oil, animal oil and also vegetable oil that could be used on the process. If the price was twice of meat on weight, then we would be expecting a shipment of at least 5,000 liquid pounds or 500 imperial gallons."
"Of course, if its more expensive then the orders for such raw materials would be lesser. We won't be raising the price because we would like to make it affordable for everyone."
"Why do you ask?" I peered at the engineer who spoke to me and he simply replied, "Oh, my dad used to be a sea tradesman. He might know the prices of such but we have long lost contact due to being in secrecy. That's one of the criteria being a Shadow."
"Aww... Don't be too hard on yourself then... Keep your chin up. Who knows maybe paths of destiny might cross one day?" I reassured the young Shadow as he felt slightly nostalgic since he mentioned his dad.
Who doesn't miss his own parents, eh?
Suddenly, a few shouts rang out followed by sharp blows of a whistle indicating that intruders were inbound and out peaceful town was under attack.
I repeat myself again...
OUR PEACEFUL TOWN IS UNDER ATTACK...!!!
- Writer
