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26. Berries: Nature's Natural Desserts
漿果-大自然的天然點心
The last child has left the house for school.
最后一個孩子也上學去了。
The table is clean and neatly set, and the coffee is brewing.
餐桌已收拾干凈且擺放整齊，咖啡正煮著，
The cool orange juice stands like a sentry over the tableware.
而柳橙汁好像站崗似的守衛著餐具。
Mother sits down, pours cereal into a bowl, and sprinkles it lightly with sugar.
母親坐下來倒了些早餐脆片在碗中，然后稍微灑了些糖。
She is then ready for the final masterpiece.
這時她已準備好要完成她的杰作。
She carefully spoons pre-cut ruby red strawberries onto the mound of golden corn flakes.
她小心地舀了些已切好如紅寶石般的草莓，放在金黃的玉米脆片堆上，
Pouring ivory-white milk over the concoction, Mother smiles to herself.
再澆上象牙白的牛奶以后，母親自顧地笑了。
An attractive, nutritious breakfast fit for a queen.
好一份適合女王享用而誘人的營養早餐。
Most people around the world are now familiar with and can enjoy strawberries,
世界上大多數人現在都熟悉草莓，而且吃得到草莓，
but few are familiar with other, more exotic berries, such as the gooseberry, blackberry, and raspberry.
但卻很少有人知道其它較具異國風味的漿果，例如醋栗、黑莓及覆盆子等。
Indeed, even fewer people realize what the word berry technically refers to.
事實上，了解漿果其學理意義的人就更少了。
The berry of the botanist and the berry of the public are often two quite different fruits.
植物學家所指的漿果和一般大眾口中的漿果通常是兩種頗為不同的果類。
Those whose specialty is plants define a berry as a simple, fleshy fruit with a thin wall and many seeds.
專門研究植物的人將漿果定義為皮薄多籽而果肉豐富的單一果類。
Under this classification are several surprises.
以此分類會產生一些令人料想不到的事。
One would expect that cranberries are berries, of course, but less obvious members of this class are dates, grapes, tomatoes, and even potatoes, bananas, and asparagus!
任何人都理所當然會認為蔓越橘是漿果類，但在上述定義中較不明顯的同類還包含了棗子、葡萄、蕃茄，甚至還有馬鈴薯、香蕉及蘆筍！
Indeed, according to botanists, some popular "berries" are not true berries at all.
一點兒也沒錯，根據植物學家，部分常見的“漿果”根本名實不符。
Experts in plant life consider the blueberry an "inferior berry" and the strawberry, raspberry, and blackberry an "aggregate fleshy fruit."
這些植物專家視藍莓為“較低等的漿果”，而草莓、覆盆子及黑莓則為“聚集多果肉的果類”。
However,no matter how scientists call them, most people think of berries as small, round, sweet, and delicious fruits.
然而不論科學家如何稱呼，大多數人仍認定漿果就是小小圓圓又甜甜的美味水果。
Berries such as strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries prefer cool and moist growing conditions.
像草莓、黑莓、覆盆子及藍莓之類的漿果都喜好濕冷的生長環境。
Though they rarely thrive in tropical conditions, they can be grown on the sides of taller hills and mountains there.
雖然它們在熱帶環境中極少長得很茂盛，但在熱帶地方較高的山坡和高山旁還是能夠生長。
Several species of wildlife forage for berries, the largest of these being the bear.
有些種類的野生動物以采食漿果為生，其中以熊的體積最大。
Some smaller mammals and birds, too, enjoy berries, not to mention people.
有些小型哺乳動物或鳥類亦喜食漿果，更別說人類了。
Wild berries are noticeably smaller than their domesticated cousins,
野漿果明顯比人工培育的漿果來得小，
but many people prefer the full, rich taste of freshly picked forest berries.
但許多人還是比較喜歡剛摘下的森林漿果那種濃郁的味道。
Besides being a condiment on breakfast cereals, are there any other uses for berries?
除了作為早餐脆片的佐料以外，漿果還有其它用途嗎？
Westerners make good use of their local fruits.
西方人很會利用他們當地所產的水果。
Jellies, jams, and preserves can be easily made with berries, gelatin, and sugar.
用漿果、洋菜和糖很容易就制作出果凍、果醬以及蜜餞。
These three sweetened foods differ only in the process used to make them.
這三種甜食惟一的差別僅在于制造過程。
Jellies are made from the juice of a fruit,
果凍是由水果榨汁而成，
jams from the thoroughly crushed fruit, and preserves from the partially crushed or cut fruit.
果醬來自于完全壓碎的水果，而蜜餞則以半壓碎或切過的水果制成。
They are all equally delicious!
它們都一樣好吃極了！
Berries are also used in baked goods.
漿果亦用于烘烤食品中。
Pies and tarts often contain berries as do many other pastries.
派和餡餅常以漿果為餡，而許多糕餅類亦然。
These small fruits are also added into cakes and even breads, especially after drying.
這些小果實也常被加在蛋糕或甚至面包中，尤其是在風干以后。
In addition, the concentrated juice of berries can be used to make cool summer drinks.
此外，濃縮的漿果果汁亦可調制出夏日冷飲圣品。
Concentrated further, various syrups can be added to foods as diverse as pancakes and ice cream.
若再進一步濃縮便可制成各種糖漿，從薄煎餅到冰淇淋都可添加使用。
As flavorings, they are often added to candies and chocolates.
作為調味品，則可加在糖果或巧克力中。
In Western cuisine, life would be less sweet and interesting without the humble berry.
在西方的烹調料理中，若沒有這謙卑的漿果，生活便不會那么甜美有趣了。
For some people, though, berries are best eaten fresh.
不過對有些人而言，漿果還是新鮮的最好吃。
They say that after washing and refrigerating, simply place a generous portion of berries into a cereal bowl, add chilled milk, and top with sugar. Enjoy!
他們說在清洗、冰鎮后，將一大把漿果放入早餐脆片的碗中，加入冰牛奶，再撒上糖，那真是好吃的不得了！
As the season for berries is usually in the summer and fall, this snack or dessert really hits the spot.
由于漿果通常盛產于夏秋兩季，而這樣的點心或甜點在這兩個季節里真是再恰當不過了！
For those who do not live where berries grow naturally and plentifully,
對那些不住在漿果盛產地的人來說，
these natural dessert fruits can be enjoyed while visiting those areas lucky enough to have them.
當他們拜訪這些幸運擁有它們的地方時，還是可以享用這些天然的水果點心。
