[Sca-cooks] Period Flour Query

[Terry Decker]

Tamis is a derivative of the Old English temse, which means sieve.  A little 
checking suggest that the small drum sieve is primarily a home appliance.  A 
larger version was used in some small mills, but the drum sieve is not 
designed for producing a high volume of flour.  I've come across a couple of 
descriptions that describe bolting by forming a bag from the bolting cloth, 
which was then filled with meal and beaten to produce flour.  And I've also 
encountered a description of a tubular cloth bolter worked by two men.  Just 
for fun, here is an essay on grist milling that contains a description of an 
18th Century automated bolter: 
http://www.engr.psu.edu/mtah/essays/histbeth/gristmilling.html .

Bear



> If you look in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, the 
> section on kitchen implements, there is a line drawing of a tamis or drum 
> sieve.  According to my 90-year-old mom that is what she used as a young 
> woman when learning to cook.  Today's drum sieve - with metal mesh - can 
> sometimes be found in Oriental markets.
>
>  Apparently in the SCA period the tamis had a fabric bottom, most likely 
> linen but could be silk.
>
>  Cordelia Toser