Inside of the huge pan on top of the metic drum,
A a slatted wood is placed as in the picture below.
As I want the Kozo stalks to be exposed to as much steam as possible
I used wire mesh
A piece of wood is removable on each side of the slatted wood
so that I can add water later on or to see the water level!
Through this pipe I can check how well it’s steaming
and the smell of the steam.
I visualize the condition of Kozo inside from the information I get through it.
You can get burnt unless you fan the steam with your hand to smell.
I’s almost done when the grassy smell changed to a mild smell.
Ok! It’s been steamed well.
Now
I peel the barks off.
The bark splits as I twist it and that’s where to start peeling.
Maybe the skin facing north is thinner than the other parts and easily torn.
Usually they pour cold water on steamed Kozo
but I soak them in cold water from the mountain to keep them from drying.
