XV, 3 
Groff: Soy Sauce in Kivangtung 
311 
The length of time required to soften the beans depends en- 
tirely upon the amount of heat applied. Another satisfactory 
process is to drop the beans into boiling water. The makers 
use both methods. If the beans are boiled constantly, three 
to four hours are sufficient for the softening process. However, 
in order to save time, many of the shops boil the beans at night, 
allowing the fire to die out and then removing the beans at 
about 4 o’clock in the morning. They are then placed in bam- 
boo baskets, allowed to drain, and become almost cold before 
being mixed with the flour (Plate IV, fig. 2). 
Mixing of beans and flour . — The beans are then poured upon 
the mixing board, two baskets at a time. Two men stand, one 
on either side of the board, and thoroughly mix the beans and 
flour with their hands. Care must be taken that each bean 
is covered with flour. This mixture of flour and beans is then 
placed on the trays to a thickness of about 1.5 inches, and the 
hand is used to furrow them so that they get proper ventilation 
(Plate II, fig. 2). The mixture remains in the mold room from 
one to two weeks, depending entirely upon the time of year 
and the weather. Much less time is needed in the hot rainy 
season. After the middle of November the manufacturing 
plants stop boiling beans and do not begin again until the spring 
season opens in February, as the weather during this period 
is unfavorable to produce the mold. After the beans are placed 
on the trays, they begin to mold in about three days. 
Mold . — The natural yellow mold is probably a species of 
Aspergillus, and the undesirable black is a Mucor. e Care must 
be taken that only the yellow mold is used in the making of soy, 
and all black mold should be removed before placing in the jars 
of salt water (Plate VI, fig. 2). 
Method of sunning beans and flour. — The mold from 1,400 
catties of beans and 1,200 catties of flour is divided into thirty- 
six jars. A salt solution, of 150 catties of water to 40 catties 
of salt, is then poured into the jars until they are full. The 
salt solution is thoroughly cleaned before using by allowing the 
dirt to settle and then pouring off the solution. The jars of 
bean-flour mold and salt water are then placed in the yard to 
sun where they remain from two to six months (Plate V, fig. 2) . 
The longer the period of time the better. Most of the shops, 
9 These general determinations were made by Prof. C. W. Howard, 
biologist at the Canton Christian College, who is making cultures for 
further study. 
