20200425a

The berry that keeps Asia looking young

让亚洲人容颜不老的枸杞莓

High in the upper reaches of North-West China lies a land filled with riches. For it's here, on the banks of the Yellow River and in the shade of the mist-covered Liupan Mountains that the people of the Ningxia region have been growing one of Asia's most sought-after foods for centuries.

远在中国西北部地区的高原之上，有这样一片肥沃富饶的土地。因为那里得天独厚的地理优势——地处黄河两岸，且背靠常年云雾缭绕的六盘山——几百年来，当地的宁夏人民得以栽培出一种风靡亚洲的食材。

This small, oval-shaped berry has been called the "red diamond" as it is thought to have anti-ageing powers and has achieved newfound global status as a superfood, but to the people of China, who have being using it medilly since the 3rd Century, it's simply called the goji berry or wolfberry.

这是一种小小的、椭圆状的莓子，据说它有着抗衰老的功效，所以一直以来都被人们称为是“红宝石”，如今它又在全球范围内获得了一个新的身份——“超级食物”。不过广大中国人民早在公元 3 世纪就将这种莓子作为药材使用了，对于他们而言，这不过就是常说的“枸杞”或“枸杞子”罢了。

The Chinese view the goji berry as both a fruit and a herb, and the berry that's packed with vitamin C, antioxidants, amino acids and trace minerals, is prescribed by TCM doctors to boost liver and kidney function.

中国人将其视为一种水果，同时也是一种药草。这种莓子富含维他命 C、抗氧化成分、氨基酸以及矿物质微量元素，中医们常常会将枸杞开入药方，用以强健肝脏和肾脏功能。

But times are changing for this simple berry, including how it is consumed. The ancient goji berry, which has long been part of Chinese culture, is now being viewed as a superfood both in China and beyond.

不过，这种“平平无奇”的莓子正在经历时代的变化，它的利用方式也正处在变化之中。长久以来，枸杞的历史文化源远流长，一直是中华文化的一部分。不过如今，它已成为中国乃至世界的“超级食物”。

Asia's younger generations are embracing the goji berry, but giving it their own twist. For example, members of Gen Z are now buying "wellness kettles" for their goji berry tea.

亚洲的年轻一代也对枸杞喜闻乐见，不过用法独出心裁。比如，Z 世代如今会购置“养生壶”来泡枸杞茶。

Young chefs in Asia are also using goji berries in their dishes to give them a little local flavour. It was the goji berry that Chef Anna Lim turned to when she was invited to make a limited-edition breakfast dish for fast food giant McDonald's.

亚洲的年轻主厨们也纷纷在自己的菜肴里加入枸杞，增添些许地道风味。林安娜厨师在受邀为快餐行业巨头麦当劳制作一份限量早餐时，使用的正是枸杞。

Beyond dining out, health-conscious consumers wanting to embrace the superfood as Asian families have done for generations, can simply throw some goji berries into their soup or tea, and enjoy the taste of the sweet raisin-like superfood that keeps Asia looking and feeling young.

除了外出就餐之外，注重养生的消费者们，也希望以亚洲家庭世代相传的方式接纳这道食材。他们可以往自己的汤或茶里，随意加些枸杞，接着便可以享受这道甜甜的、外形酷似葡萄干的超级食物了。也正是它，让亚洲人外表和内心都青春常驻。