The refining of flours

Flour refining (fai sa farra) was a purely feminine activity.

The purpose of sieving was to separate the different components of the whole wheat flour, obtaining bran, flour, semolina, and cruschello; fundamental ingredients for the different types of bread.

The screening operations, depending on the area of the island, could take place in “sa lolla” (the loggia) in Campidanese or “sa loggia” barbaric, etc. The women who dedicated themselves to this set of operations covered their hair with a handkerchief and wore an apron, not only to protect the flours hygienically, but also to protect their person from volatile materials.

The women who were about to carry out screening operations had all the necessary tools (strexus) at their disposal. All the items essential for baking purposes, including “su strexu 'e fenu” (sieves and baskets essential for screening operations), were part of the bride's dowry. There were “is crobis” baskets of different sizes and with high edges, in densely woven hay or asphodel, aimed at containing the different flours; “su canisteddu”, a large flat basket, also made of hay or asphodel, containing a wooden bench (sedatzadori). Above the latter was placed the first sieve (sedatzu de ferru/sedatzu de sgràngiai/sadassu largu), to which a rotating and jerking movement was imprinted, in such a way as to bring out the bran (gràngia, etc.) from the whole wheat flour. The second sieve (sedatzu de pilu/sedassu cottu), made of horsehair or iron wire, was used to separate the thinner bran from the coarser one. The third sieve was 'on de seda' to separate the semolina (sìmbula) from the flour (scetti, pòddine). A final sieving (aggrumai sa sìmbula) allowed the complete refining of the semolina, which was obtained by giving the basket (on poles) rotating and jerking movements, so as to concentrate the dashboard in the central part of it.

If the Campidanese women performed the screening operations seated on low chairs, the Barbarians used to perform the same operations sitting on the ground, with their legs crossed or alternately folded inwards.

Update

22/6/2024 - 15:43