專四晨讀美文：Tastes of Britain

Tastes of Britain
If you really want to get to know England,
you should use your tongue to do more than just speak English.
You should educate your palate
on the tastes of the local food too.
That is what the British conservation charity
the National Trust thinks—
and it is putting its money where its mouth is.
The Trust employed a panel of taste experts
to identify what flavours typify each region in the UK.
They tried food and drink from many areas,
making sure to smell, touch and look at the food
as well as savour the taste.
After tasting apple chutney, beef,
ice cream and potatoes grown in Cornwall,
they said that the primary flavours of southwest England
have overtones of cream and honey
that are present even in the meat courses.
Probably the most famous of these dishes is the Cornish pasty,
a traditional miners' lunch of beef and potato
wrapped in pastry.
It is as popular as cream tea,
where the beverage is served with scones,
jam and clotted cream.
According to the experts,
the flavours that represent the Midlands are gamey.
The panel tasted the local pale ale and spring lamb,
among other things.
But the Trust is concerned
that regional foods risk becoming extinct
because the nation is losing the ability
to taste complex and varied flavours.
The Director-General of the National Trust,
Fiona Reynolds, says: "Taste is something we're losing,
because too many of our meals
are packed with additives and flavourings.
And because many of us
don't see food production for ourselves,
we're losing contact with where food comes from
and its distinctive taste."
The National Trust's research
is the latest initiative in a growing movement
to reconnect British people with their traditional foods.
The trend has seen the revival of farmers' markets
and the multiplication of TV programmes about gastronomy.
Reynolds suggests that people should buy local food in season
or grow their own fruit and vegetables.
The National Trust seeks to serve local produce
in the restaurants and tearooms
that it maintains close to historic houses
and ancient monuments around Britain.
The Trust also publishes advice on its website
to people who want to "rescue their taste buds".
This includes buying fresh produce
and enjoying the aroma of food before eating it.
The site also advises readers to ditch the salt and pepper
and try food without any form of seasoning.