As a precious traditional Chinese medicinal plant, Magnolia officinalis has a long growth period and rich medicinal value. Generally, it takes more than 20 years to peel its bark. The best time to cut the tree and peel the bark is from April to August when it is in vigorous growth. Due to the scarcity of Magnolia officinalis resources, digging and peeling the roots is generally not recommended. After the bark of Magnolia officinalis is harvested, the main focus is on post-processing. Let's take a look at two commonly used methods of processing Magnolia officinalis.
I. Traditional Common Processing Method
After harvesting Magnolia officinalis, remove the rough bark, steam it in a wooden steamer with 1-2 kilograms of ginger in 50 kilograms of water for 2-3 hours. When the bark becomes slightly soft to the touch, stop steaming. Take out the Magnolia officinalis and put it in a pre-dug pit measuring 100 cm x 100 cm in length and width. Surround the pit and lay straw on the bottom. Layer by layer, pile up the Magnolia officinalis, sprinkling a little bit of fish water on each layer of bark. After the pile is full, cover it with a straw raincoat, grass mat, or sack to prevent air leakage. Let it undergo natural fermentation at room temperature to remove bitterness. In summer, this process takes about 3 days, while in winter, it takes 4-5 days, until the Magnolia officinalis becomes soft to the touch.
After the fermentation process, the color of the Magnolia officinalis bark changes from gray-white to reddish-brown. Roll it into a tube shape while it is still soft. For large ones, two people can roll them into two rolls (double tubes), while for small ones, one person can roll them into a single roll (single tube). After rolling, tie both ends tightly with straw or hemp thread, then use a knife to cut both ends into a diagonal shape. Dry it in the sunlight during the day. When bringing it back inside at night, arrange it neatly in the shape of a "well" to allow for ventilation and fast drying.
After the Magnolia officinalis undergoes fermentation, place it in a well-ventilated room (on a floor or in a thatched shed) with a height of 30-50 centimeters off the ground. Build a rack with boards and neatly arrange the Magnolia officinalis in the shape of a "well" according to the specified size for air drying or shade drying. Avoid direct sunlight or stacking on the ground or in poorly ventilated areas. After the Magnolia officinalis is dry, it needs to be sorted and bundled for sale.
II. Traditional Fine Processing Method
After the regular processing of Magnolia officinalis, it can be further processed according to special requirements or export specifications.
① Selection
Select high-quality Magnolia officinalis that are intact, have a good color, tightly rolled, without cracks, have thick bark, and meet the length requirements according to the specifications.
② Trimming
Also known as "cleaning the bark," scrape off the lichens and rough cork layer on the surface of the selected Magnolia officinalis with a scraper, making sure it is moderate, even, and clean.
③ Trimming the Ends (also known as end trimming)
Use a knife to trim both ends of the Magnolia officinalis, then tie both ends with red silk thread.
④ Drying
Place the finely trimmed Magnolia officinalis on a well-ventilated, cool, shaded, clean, and pollution-free floor, pad, or shelf for natural drying.
