舌尖上的中国第1季 第40期:转化的灵感(14)

 Brewing wine isn't difficult for old people. 对于老人来说，做酒算不上一件难事。

In the abundant Jiangnan, rice is an indispensable part of life here. 富庶的江南地区稻米是生活中不可缺少的部分。

It's only natural to make several jars of wine to treat themselves and guests and worship gods during the slack season of farming. 年前正是农闲，做几坛米酒祭神敬祖招待客人，犒劳自己都是自然不过的事。

The cocoon-shaped Jiuqu or fermentation starter is the soul of wine-making. 蚕茧般的酒麴是酿酒的灵魂。

Jiuqu is considered the seed with yeast¹. 可以把它理解成“接上了菌的种子”。

A variety of yeasts² are lying in the mixture of rice powder and red-knee herbs. 这些稻粉和辣寥草的混合体里面沉睡着形形色色的发酵菌。

They are waiting for the perfect time to wake up. 等待合适的时机苏醒。

Cheng mixes the crushed Jiuqu with glutinous³ rice. 程进顺把碾碎的酒麴均匀地和糯米拌在一起。

Jiuqu is a great invention of the Chinese people, the most ancient and effective attempt of human beings at taming micro-organisms. 酒麴是中国人了不起的发明，是人们试图捕捉和驯化微生物的最古老而有效的尝试。

This is the most important step of making wine to bring about the most magical part of the transformation⁴. 这是酿酒中最重要的一步，它们将带来转化中最神奇的部分。

A deep hole is dug in the well-mixed rice. 拌好的糯米被拔出一个深深的酒窝。

Not a single grain of rice will be wasted. 再把指缝间的每一粒米都抹进缸中。

To distribute the last handful of Jiuqu power, all the procedures are finished. 撒上最后一把酒麴。

Now, we'll just let time deal with the rest of the work. 之后的一切，都要交给时间了。

The molds will change the starch⁵ into sugar. 那些霉菌将会把糯米中的淀粉变成糖。

The yeasts will turn the sugar into alcohol. 而酵母菌们负责把糖变成酒精。

We can almost hear the hilarious⁶ singing of yeasts spreading from the darkness. 在黑暗中仿佛传来发酵菌们欢快的歌声。

1 yeast   

n.酵母；酵母片；泡沫；v.发酵；起泡沫

参考例句：

• Yeast can be used in making beer and bread.酵母可用于酿啤酒和发面包。
• The yeast began to work.酵母开始发酵。

2 yeasts   

酵母( yeast的名词复数 )； 酵母菌； 发面饼； 发酵粉

参考例句：

• The basidiospores proliperate in a manner comparable to the multiplication of yeasts. 担孢子以一种可与酵母繁殖相比拟的方式进行增殖。
• Wine yeasts can grow in sweet wines even after bottling. 装瓶以后葡萄酒酵母也能在甜葡萄酒中生长。

3 glutinous   

adj.粘的，胶状的

参考例句：

• The sauce was glutinous and tasted artificial.这种酱有些黏，尝起来不是非常地道。
• The coat covering the soft candies is made from glutinous rice.包裹软糖的江米纸是由糯米做成的。

4 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

5 starch   

n.淀粉；vt.给...上浆

参考例句：

• Corn starch is used as a thickener in stews.玉米淀粉在炖煮菜肴中被用作增稠剂。
• I think there's too much starch in their diet.我看是他们的饮食里淀粉太多了。

6 hilarious   

adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed

参考例句：

• The party got quite hilarious after they brought more wine.在他们又拿来更多的酒之后，派对变得更加热闹起来。
• We stop laughing because the show was so hilarious.我们笑个不停，因为那个节目太搞笑了。