Like people in many other countries, Taiwanese are fond of delicious fried snacks. For example, Spain is known for its churros, and in Taiwan there is a traditional fried dessert made of sticky rice called beh teung guai. The snack consists of sticky rice flour that is mixed with water, kneaded into a dough and shaped into small pieces. Once fried, the sticky rice balls are coated in crushed peanuts and sugar mixture.
世界上有許多國家愛吃炸甜點，台灣也不例外。舉例來說，西班牙有吉拿棒，台灣人則有油炸糯米的點心──白糖粿。作法先將糯米粉和水混合揉成糰，再捏成小塊，炸好後裹上花生糖粉。
knead (v.) 揉（麵糰、黏土），捏；捏製；揉捏形成
Photo courtesy of Bookman l 圖片:書林
Beh teung guai is a traditional snack that has been enjoyed by many senior citizens since childhood, but it is not just for the older generation. Today, vendors are adding new and innovative flavors to this classic snack, making it a popular snack among all age groups. Besides the classic crushed peanuts and sugar coating, beh teung guai is now available in various flavors like coffee, chocolate and matcha. Some vendors also offer a roasted wheat flour flavor, which was in the past often mixed with water to make a popular and nostalgic drink. These simple desserts have once again become popular due to the creativity of shop owners who have added colorful coatings to attract the attention of passersby.
白糖粿是許多長輩從小吃到大的傳統甜點，但不是只有長輩愛吃，許多攤商發揮創意，除了經典的花生糖粉口味，還可以選咖啡、可可、抹茶等各式各樣的口味，有的店家還提供麵茶粉口味，麵茶是台灣古早味飲品。這道簡單的甜點藉由商家的創意再次成為人氣美食，裹著七彩繽紛的糖粉，吸引路人的目光。
roasted wheat flour (n. phr.) 麵茶粉
The origin of fried beh teung guai comes from a sticky rice ball known as “teung guai” which is boiled in water. The ball has a dent in the middle to represent a bowl holding the countless tears shed by the Chinese goddess Zhinu (also known as Qixing Niangniang). Zhinu was the youngest daughter of the Jade Emperor. She is best known for her role in the Chinese folk tale “The Cowherd and the Weaving Girl” which is the origin of Chinese Lovers’ Day. One day she went down to Earth and fell in love with a cowherd, but her father the emperor disapproved of their marriage. He used the Milky Way galaxy to separate them, but allowed them to meet only once a year on Zhinu’s birthday on the seventh day of the seventh month (Qixi). Each year the lovers have to cross the Milky Way using a bridge built by magpies (the Magpie Bridge) to see each other.
白糖粿是自「糖粿」演變而來。糖粿其實就是湯圓，每顆糖粿中間會壓上凹痕，代表用來裝織女眼淚的碗。織女尊稱為七星娘娘，她是玉皇大帝最年幼的女兒，為中國神話故事〈牛郎織女〉中的仙女，她的故事是東方情人節「七夕」的由來。織女下凡遊歷時，愛上了人間的牛郎，然而她的父親玉帝不同意他們的婚事，於是用銀河將兩人分開，每年只有在織女的生日七夕（農曆七月初七），兩人才能跨過銀河，於鵲橋上相會。
dent (n.) 凹痕；(v.) 凹下；塌陷
Jade Emperor 玉帝，天帝
disapprove (v.) 不同意
Milky Way (n. phr.) 銀河
Zhinu’s tragic love story elevated her to become the patron of love and children. In some cities like Tainan or Changhua, children at the age of 16 worship Qixing Niangniang with teung guai during the Qixi Festival to thank her for her blessings over the previous sixteen years. Unmarried men and women can also worship Qixing Niangniang because she reports information about them to the Heavenly Court in the hopes a suitable partner can be matched to them.
織女和牛郎悽婉的愛情，使織女成為愛情和孩子的守護神。每年七夕，在台南、彰化等地，若家中有16 歲的孩子，會準備糖粿當供品，以感謝織女十六年來的保佑。世間未婚男女也會拜七星娘娘，因為她可以上報天庭，讓合適的單身男女可以配對。
elevate (v.) 提升...職位
patron (n.) 守護神
文章由書林出版公司提供：
www.bookman.com.tw
In Cape Town, South Africa, a fresh influx of inhabitants is causing a stir. Known as “digital nomads,” these individuals are transforming the city’s environment and sparking debates around urban growth and the welfare of local communities. By definition, digital nomads are professionals who exploit advanced technology to facilitate remote work while embracing a nomadic lifestyle — all without disrupting their careers. Frequently moving between locations, these nomads primarily work in sectors such as technology, creative industries and consultancy, which are particularly conducive to remote operations. This working trend has grown in popularity following the COVID-19 pandemic, with an increasing number
A: Who are nominated for Best Leading Actor at the Golden Horse Awards? B: The nominees are: Jason King, Chang Chen, Neo Yau, Wanlop Rungkumjad and Zhang Zhiyong. A: How about Best Leading Actress? B: The nominees are: Patra Au, Kimi Hsia, Chung Suet-ying, Sylvia Chang and Sandra Ng. A: What are your predictions for the winners this year? A: 本屆金馬獎入圍最佳男主角的有誰啊？ B: 入圍的有：喜翔、張震、游學修、Wanlop Rungkumjad、張志勇。 A: 入圍最佳女主角的呢？ B: 入圍的有：區嘉雯、夏于喬、鍾雪瑩、張艾嘉、吳君如。 A: 今年你預測誰會得獎？ （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
It’s likely that you may know someone who has had their appendix removed, or at least you’ve heard of the operation. An appendectomy is typically performed when the appendix, a small pouch next to the intestines, becomes inflamed or infected, leading to severe pain and potential complications if left untreated. Fortunately, the procedure is very safe today, and patients can go on to live normal lives without their appendix. Yet, it still begs the question of how humans can continue living without an organ. The human body is full of various parts that scientists still don’t completely understand, and
A: And which films are nominated for the Golden Horse Awards’ Best Narrative Feature? B: The nominees are: “All Shall Be Well,” ”Stranger Eyes,” “Dead Talents Society,” “An Unfinished Film” and “Bel Ami.” A: I heard that “Bel Ami” is a great gay-themed comedy from China. B: Yeah, and as many as 276 Chinese movies registered for the competition this year. A: The two sides of the Taiwan Strait have finally resumed exchanges in cinematography. A: 本屆金馬獎入圍最佳劇情片的有哪些？ B: 入圍的有：《從今以後》、《默視錄》、《鬼才之道》、《一部未完成的電影》、《漂亮朋友》。 A: 聽說《漂亮朋友》是一部精彩的中國同志喜劇片。 B: 今年光是中國就有多達276部電影參賽。 A: 海峽兩岸終於恢復電影交流啦！ （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張聖恩）
RSS