Barley is one of the staple foods for the Shuhi, a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group in SW Sichuan, China
The crop are dried on the flat roofs of the houses
The crop are dried on the flat roofs of the houses
Winnowing of the dried crop on the roof of the house
To make barley wine, the grain is roasted. After roasting, water is added and the barley grains are cooked until all water is absorbed
To make barley wine, the grain is roasted. After roasting, water is added and the barley grains are cooked until all water is absorbed
Three to four mortared ‘‘chu’’ (white rings containing fish liver, honey, and other ingredients) are added to facilitate the fermentation process
Three to four mortared ‘‘chu’’ (white rings containing fish liver, honey, and other ingredients) are added to facilitate the fermentation process
Three to four mortared ‘‘chu’’ (white rings containing fish liver, honey, and other ingredients) are added to facilitate the fermentation process
The fermenting barley rests at least one night…
The fermenting barley rests at least one night…
The fermenting barley rests at least one night…
…and then is poured into earthen pots, which are tightly sealed with ash and clay
Barley wine can be extracted as early as three days after the pots are sealed but the pots also can be stored for several months
The remaining fermented grains then can be distilled for spirits
The remaining fermented grains then can be distilled for spirits
Beside barley wine, butter tea and tsampa (roasted barley flour) play an important role in the daily diet
The grains are milled with a vertical waterwheel mill, which is in a small stone hut built adjacent to streams in side valleys
a: wooden water channel b: multiple-winged waterwheel c: upper, moving mill stone d: wooden stick transferring vibrations from the millstone to the grain feeder e: grain feeder
Inside the mill
Inside the mill
Dough figures for consumption by the participants of a ritual as a medicinal or spiritual substance
Dough figures that have been prepared from tsampa and then decorated with butter
Ritualist preparing dough figures
Ritualist performing a healing ritual
Dough figures
A container with tsampa burned during the morning ritual
Morning ritual on the roof of the house