為什麼野山蔘這麼貴 | 為什麼這麼貴 | Business Insider：英語精讀講義

Hong Daesik has stumbled upon something truly rare. 片語動詞

Hong Daesik 偶然發現了非常罕見的東西。

It's a ginseng root that grew naturally in the wild

這是一根在野外自然生長的人參，

and it will sell for tens of thousands of dollars. 片語搭配

可以賣到數萬美元。

But most other classes of ginseng won't sell for anywhere near this much. 片語搭配

但其他大多數種類的人參，售價都遠遠不到這麼高。

So what makes this root so special? 文法

那麼，這根人參究竟有什麼特別之處？

And why is wild ginseng so expensive?

野生人參為什麼這麼昂貴？

Ginseng is one of the most popular herbs in the world, 文法

人參是全球最受歡迎的藥草之一，

but there's a wide range for what it'll cost you.

但價格差異非常大。

On average,

平均來說，

a single ginseng root found growing naturally in the wild in South Korea 文法

在南韓野外自然生長的一根人參，

can cost thousands of dollars depending on its age. 片語搭配

視參齡而定，可能要價數千美元。

Farmed ginseng, on the other hand, 表達脈絡

相較之下，人工栽培的人參

could only cost about $25 for 10 roots in South Korea.

在南韓10根可能只要約25美元。

The third category is in the middle.

第三類的價格則介於兩者之間。

It's called wild simulated ginseng, 文化背景

它稱為仿野生人參，

and it can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars.

價格從數百美元到數千美元不等。

For 28 years, 文法

28年來，

Hong Daesik has been growing and harvesting wild simulated ginseng in the mountains around Suncheon,

Hong Daesik 一直在順天周邊山區種植並採收仿野生人參。

South Korea.

順天位於南韓。

Wild ginseng used to grow here naturally, 文法

過去，這裡曾自然生長著野生人參，

but demand for the herb has led to overharvesting, 片語搭配

但人們對這種藥草的需求導致過度採收，

making it incredibly rare to find today, 文法

如今已經極難找到，

which is why harvesters have moved to growing the similar-looking but less expensive wild-simulated variety. 表達脈絡

因此，採參人轉而種植外觀相似、價格卻較低的仿野生品種。

In order to harvest wild-simulated ginseng, 文法

為了採收仿野生人參，

Daesik has to plant seeds.

Daesik 必須先播種。

But growing this type of ginseng may not be worth the hassle. 片語搭配

但種植這類人參可能不值得如此大費周章。

In fact, 表達脈絡

事實上，

90% of the wild-simulated plants Daesik grows won't survive.

Daesik 種植的仿野生人參有90%都無法存活。

This is partly due to the plant's need for ample shade 片語搭配

部分原因是這種植物需要充足的遮蔭，

and its sensitivity to high temperatures,

而且對高溫、

over humidity, and disease.

濕度過高和病害都很敏感。

When grown in forests, 文法

在森林裡種植時，

ginseng is also vulnerable to hungry animals. 片語搭配

人參也很容易遭到飢餓動物啃食。

After 8 years,

8年後，

Daesik can begin harvesting the ginseng he's planted.

Daesik 才能開始採收自己種下的人參。

Harvesting these roots requires special attention and care.

挖取這些參根時需要格外專注與小心。

Daesik must dig around the root,

Daesik 必須從參根周圍開始挖，

being careful not to damage any part of it. 文法

小心不要損傷它的任何部位。

어.

呃。

Roots that grow in forests are often much smaller,

生長在森林裡的參根通常小得多，

knobbier, and have more growth scars.

表面更凹凸不平，生長疤痕也更多。

Similar to trees, 表達脈絡

和樹木一樣，

growth scars on ginseng can be used to determine its age. 文法

人們可以根據人參的生長疤痕判斷它的年份。

And the more scars, 文法

疤痕越多，

the higher the price.

價格就越高。

So why are older and wilder ginseng roots so valuable anyway?

那麼，參齡更長、野生程度更高的人參究竟為何如此珍貴？

Older roots are believed to have higher concentrations of ginsenosides, 文法

人們認為，年份更久的參根含有濃度更高的人參皂苷，

the all-star bioactive ingredient of ginseng that many believe gives it medicinal benefits. 慣用語

這是人參中最重要的生物活性成分，許多人認為人參的藥用功效正是源於此。

Higher concentrations of these compounds are believed to make the root more potent.

人們認為，這些化合物的濃度越高，參根的功效就越強。

But not all of ginseng's benefits have been scientifically verified. 文法

但人參的功效並非全都經過科學驗證。

While some studies suggest ginseng has medicinal benefits, 表達脈絡

有些研究顯示，人參具有藥用功效，

like reducing pain and improving learning,

例如減輕疼痛和提升學習能力，

other studies debate its effects.

但另一些研究則對其效果提出質疑。

This study suggests ginseng is no more effective than a placebo in enhancing physical performance. 文法

這項研究顯示，在增強體能表現方面，人參的效果並不優於安慰劑。

And this larger study suggests that the clinical efficacy of ginseng remains to be established. 用詞

而這項規模更大的研究顯示，人參的臨床療效仍有待證實。

Once harvested, 文法

人參採收後，

ginseng spoils quickly at room temperature.

在室溫下很快就會腐壞。

So fresh roots are typically consumed immediately,

因此，新鮮參根通常會立即被食用，

brewed in tea,

或用來泡茶，

or preserved in liquors.

也可以浸泡在酒中保存。

Because of its short shelf life, 講解

由於保存期限很短，

a majority of the ginseng products you'll find in stores are sold in liquid, 文法

商店裡大多數人參產品都以液體、

dried, or powdered forms.

乾品或粉末的形式販售。

Since 2011, 文法

自2011年起，

wild simulated ginseng has been listed as a special forest product in South Korea, 文化背景

仿野生人參在南韓被列為特殊林產品，

with everything from cultivation to distribution controlled by the Korean government. 片語搭配

從栽培到流通的所有環節都由南韓政府管控。

And like other labeling certifications,

和其他標示認證一樣，

wild-simulated products in Korea need to pass inspections to guarantee their quality and authenticity. 片語搭配

南韓的仿野生人參產品必須通過檢驗，以確保品質與真實性。

This helps ensure the product is high quality and sustainable

這有助於確保產品優質且符合永續原則，

while giving ginseng harvesters like Daesik the opportunity to profit from the crop. 片語搭配

同時也讓 Daesik 這樣的採參人有機會從中獲利。

And as demand for alternative medicines and healthy foods increases,

隨著替代醫學和健康食品的需求不斷增加，

the pressure to supply wild and simulated ginseng will also likely grow,

野生與仿野生人參的供應壓力也可能隨之升高，

which is why creating a sustainable market for ginseng is more important than ever. 片語搭配

因此，建立永續的人參市場比以往任何時候都更重要。