【双语新闻】中药冰淇淋、中药面包、中药茶饮……万物皆可“入药”？

In Shanghai, a new ice cream shop has recently made headlines with its unique offerings: a range of ice creams containing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). With a total of 16 flavors, including mint and watermelon frost, wild chrysanthemum and pistachio, smoked plum, bamboo and jasmine, hawthorn and bergamot, and loquat syrup, the new summer treats are conquering customers.

在上海，一家新开的冰淇淋店因其独特的产品而备受瞩目：一系列含有中草药的冰淇淋。这些新推出的夏日甜品共有16种口味，包括薄荷和水蜜桃冰霜、野菊花和开心果、烟熏李子、竹子和茉莉、山楂和佛手柑，以及枇杷糖浆，深受顾客喜爱。

Priced at 38 yuan ($5.3) for 120 grams and 45 yuan for 150 grams, customers can also ask for toppings made from premium ingredients like ginseng (12 yuan) and caterpillar fungus (known in China as "winter-worm summer-grass," which is said to be effective in boosting the immune system, for 18 yuan). Additionally, the shop sells herbal teas at an average price of around 20 yuan.

这款冰淇淋的价格为120克38元（约合5.3美元），150克45元。顾客还可以选择添加人参（12元）和冬虫夏草（在中国被称为“冬虫夏草”，据说能有效增强免疫系统，价格为18元）等高级食材作为配料。此外，该店还以平均约20元的价格出售草本茶饮。

According to the staff, these products use ice cream as a primary base, with a small amount of herbal ingredients added to enhance the flavor. The concept is centered around the idea of "new Chinese-style herbs" and the traditional TCM principle that "food and medicine share the same origin."

据店员介绍，这些产品以冰淇淋为主要基底，加入少量中草药成分以增强口感。该产品的概念围绕“新中式草药”和中医“药食同源”的传统理念展开。

The TCM ice cream has gone viral online, with the related hashtag on China's X-like platform Sina Weibo garnering over 50 million views and 10,000 comments about it.

这款中草药冰淇淋在网上迅速走红，新浪微博上相关话题的阅读量超过5000万次，评论超过1万次。

While some Weibo users question the compatibility of these ice creams with traditional Chinese medicine principles - citing concerns over the consumption of cold foods, others showed their interest. "My last bit of guilt from eating ice cream has now disappeared," read a Weibo comment.

虽然一些微博用户对冰淇淋与中医理念的兼容性提出质疑，担心食用冷饮，但其他人则表示出浓厚兴趣。“吃冰淇淋的最后一点罪恶感现在已经消失了，”一条微博评论写道。

The rise of TCM-infused ice cream is part of a larger trend where traditional Chinese medicine is being integrated into modern food products. With wellness and health being increasingly valued by younger generations, along with a growing sense of cultural confidence, this fusion of TCM with contemporary cuisine is gaining popularity among young consumers in China. From herbal teas and bread to coffee and now ice cream, TCM is making its mark in the culinary world.

中草药冰淇淋的兴起是中医融入现代食品产品这一更大趋势的一部分。随着年轻一代越来越重视健康，以及文化自信的增强，中医与当代美食的融合在中国年轻消费者中越来越受欢迎。从草本茶和面包到咖啡，再到现在的冰淇淋，中医正在美食界留下自己的印记。

Product diversification

产品多样化

Beyond ice cream, TCM is making its way into various foods. In Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, a hospital started producing milk tea, pastries, and lollipops infused with medicinal herbs. In Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, a TCM wellness café offers a variety of herbal coffees. A hospital in North China's Tianjin has even opened a bakery featuring medicinal breads like lotus leaf hydrating toast and Ejiao soft bread.

除了冰淇淋，中医还渗透到各种食品中。在中国西南部的重庆市，一家医院开始生产含有草药的奶茶、糕点和棒棒糖。在中国南部的广东省广州市，一家中医养生咖啡馆提供多种草本咖啡。中国北部的天津市一家医院甚至开设了一家面包店，专门销售药用面包，如荷叶补水吐司和阿胶软面包。

According to data by The Beijing News media outlet, as of July 7, there are more than 30 TCM tea or herbal tea brands in the country.

据《北京新闻》报道，截至7月7日，国内已有30多个中医茶或草本茶品牌。

Over the past few years, the Chinese government has placed significant emphasis on the development of the TCM industry, introducing various policies and measures to support its innovation and growth. These initiatives have provided a solid foundation for the emergence of TCM-infused culinary products, Yi Lan, an attending TCM physician at a hospital in Guangzhou, told the Global Times.

过去几年，中国政府高度重视中医药产业的发展，出台了一系列政策和措施支持其创新和增长。广州一家医院的中医主治医师易兰（音译）告诉《环球时报》，这些举措为中医药膳产品的出现奠定了坚实基础。

On top of that, social media has also played a pivotal role in promoting this trend, amplifying its reach and appeal, particularly among younger generations, who are keen to explore new and unique experiences, she added.

此外，她还补充说，社交媒体在推广这一趋势方面也发挥了关键作用，尤其是在年轻一代中，他们热衷于探索新颖独特的体验，从而放大了这一趋势的影响力和吸引力。

For instance, suanmeitang (sour plum drink) has gained popularity since the summer of 2023 as a refreshing and appetizing drink. Traditionally brewed with additional ingredients such as hawthorn, licorice, and rock candy, this traditional beverage is renowned for its delightful taste and its capacity to alleviate heat exhaustion, counteract greasiness, and stimulate the appetite.

例如，自2023年夏季以来，酸梅汤（一种酸甜可口的饮品）因其清爽开胃的特点而广受欢迎。这种传统饮品通常用山楂、甘草和冰糖等配料熬制而成，以其美味的口感和缓解暑热、解腻开胃的功效而闻名。

On social media platforms, such as the Chinese version of TikTok, many users have posted videos of their experiences of buying suanmeitang in TCM shops. In the lifestyle-sharing platform Xiaohongshu, search of the "TCM prescription of suanmeitang" yields about 3,000 posts.

在抖音等社交媒体平台上，许多用户发布了在中医诊所购买酸梅汤的体验视频。在生活方式分享平台小红书上，搜索“酸梅汤中医配方”可以找到约3000篇相关文章。

A Douyin user's video shows that a packet of suanmeitang costs only 4.5 yuan. The ingredients include dried plums, dried tangerine peel, osmanthus flowers, hawthorn, mulberries, and rock candy. According to the video, stores can even brew it on the spot for the consumers.

一位抖音用户的视频显示，一包酸梅汤仅售4.5元， 配料包括干梅子、干橘皮、桂花、山楂、桑葚和冰糖。据视频介绍，店家甚至可以为消费者现场冲泡。

Despite TCM being usually consumed warm, some users add ice, saying it makes a deliciously refreshing drink that is "much more affordable than milk tea and healthier as well."

尽管中医饮品通常趁热饮用，但一些用户却选择加入冰块，称其口感鲜美清爽，“比奶茶更实惠，也更健康”。

However, due to the high content of organic acids like citric acid and malic acid in suanmeitang, this beverage is not suitable for children to consume, as their stomach lining is relatively delicate.

然而，由于酸梅汤中含有大量的柠檬酸和苹果酸等有机酸，因此不适合儿童饮用，因为他们的胃黏膜相对脆弱。

Adults should also avoid drinking it on an empty stomach or in large quantities. Additionally, sour plum drink is high in sugar, so it is not recommended for individuals with diabetes.

此外，成年人也应避免空腹或大量饮用酸梅汤。同时，酸梅汤含糖量较高，因此糖尿病患者不宜饮用。

Menstruating women, people with colds or fevers, or those who have a cough with phlegm or a feeling of chest congestion should also avoid drinking suanmeitang, as it could worsen these conditions, she added.

她还补充说，经期女性、感冒发热患者或咳嗽有痰、胸闷的人也应避免饮用酸梅汤，因为这可能会加重病情。