Spicy Tea|火辣的印度茶

Spicy Tea

by William Ryan

Have you ever tried chai?

　　Chai is the word for tea in India, Nepal, Tibet, and Pakistan. By far _(1)_ popular tea in the Middle East, chai is rapidly gaining global popularity, as worldwide interest increases in Indian, Turkish, and other cultures. In its countries of _(2)_, this spicy tea is called Masala chai. In Western countries, it is better known as chai latte because of the copious amounts of the key ingredient―milk. Although the tea is brewed in a normal way, there is _(3)_ of variation in how it is prepared. In fact, it might be safe to say that there are almost as many recipes as there are families who drink it.

　　Chai is traditionally simmered over an open flame in clay teacups. The traditional spices in Masala chai include cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, cloves, fennel, ginger, and peppercorn. These are all sun-dried to _(4)_ their flavor, then hand-ground and warmed in boiling water, and finally mixed with milk, honey, and black tea. This last ingredient was added by the British during India's colonization. Even though sweeteners are used _(5)_, drinkers claim that chai has a lot of health benefits. Chai is known _(6)_ high levels of antioxidants, which can reduce cholesterol and lower blood pressure.

　　Most of its health benefits are attributed _(7)_ the traditional spices, which  supposedly cure many illnesses. Locals recommend that people suffering from ailments like colds, the flu, or stomach problems give chai a try.

1. (A) the most      (B) more    (C) as  (D) less

2. (A) stability (B) origin   (C) highlight    (D) integrity

3. (A) a great deal (B) a small number     (C) a large number     (D) quite a few

4. (A) bring in  (B) bring forward   (C) bring down      (D) bring out

5. (A) competently (B) precariously    (C) liberally     (D) critically

6. (A) as contained     (B) to be contained     (C) containing (D) to contain

7. (A) as    (B) in   (C) to   (D) on

      火辣的印度茶

你有尝过印度茶吗？

　　Chai 这个字在印度、尼泊尔、西藏及巴基斯坦是茶的意思。chai 是中东国家最最受欢迎的茶，而由于世界各地对它的兴趣在印度、土耳其及其他文化中与日俱增，chai 在全球受欢迎的程度正快速增加。在这种辣茶发源的国家，它被称为 Masala chai。在西方国家，它比较为人所知的名称是 chai latte，这是由于这种茶加了大量的牛奶，而这正是它的主要成份。虽然这种茶是用一般的方式来泡，但它的料理方式有很大的不同。事实上，也许比较安全的说法是，几乎有几户人家喝这种茶，就有几种料理方法。

　　Chai 在传统中是倒在土制的茶杯中用开放的火源来煮。而 Masala chai 中所使用的传统香料包括肉桂、八角、荳蔻、丁香、茴香、姜及胡椒粒。这些香料都被晒干来产生香味，接着用手工磨碎，并倒进滚水中加热，最后再和牛奶、蜂蜜和红茶混合在一起。最后一样成份是英国人在印度殖民时期所加入的。虽然这种茶里加了大量的糖精，但喝茶的人宣称 chai 对健康有许多益处。据了解，chai 含有高度的抗氧化剂，可以减少胆固醇及降低血压。

　　Chai 绝大多数的好处都归因于这些传统的香料，这些香料据说可以治愈许多疾病。当地人建议得了感冒、流行性感冒或是胃痛的人可以试试看 chai。

答案： 1.   A   2.   B   3.   A   4.   D   5.   C

      6.   D   7.   C

 

 

Masala 在印度文里是综合香料的意思。将多种香料研磨成粉末后掺在一起就叫作 Masala，是最基本的印度香料组合。

而 Masala tea 顾名思义就是香料奶茶。传统做法是在煮茶叶的同时放入些许肉桂、荳蔻及丁香等香料，出味后再倒进鲜奶同煮，最后以砂糖调味即成。值得注意的是茶叶是用煮的，而非一般的泡制，有些版本甚至还会加入老姜，目的在于驱寒及中和红茶的凉性。在印度人的观念里，这种香料奶茶甚至还有帮助消化的功用。

（数据源：知食份子部落格）