日本新發(fā)明:用樹釀酒

TOKYODiscerning drinkers may soon be able to branch out after Japanese researchers say they have invented a way of producing an alcoholic drink made from wood.

日本研究人員稱他們發(fā)明了一種用樹木釀酒的方法，目光敏銳的酒徒可能在不久后就可以大飽口福。

The researchers at Japan's Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute say the bark-based beverages have woody qualities similar to alcohol which is aged in wood barrels. They hope to have their "wood alcohol" on shelves within three years.

日本森林綜合研究所的研究人員稱這種用樹皮釀造的酒和被儲存在木桶中的陳年酒有著相似的木香口感。他們希望三年內(nèi)能夠上架銷售他們發(fā)明的“木釀酒”。

The method involves pulverising wood into a creamy paste and then adding yeast and an enzyme to start the fermentation process.

這種釀造方法就是先將木頭研磨成奶油糊狀物，然后加入酵母和酶開始發(fā)酵過程。

By avoiding using heat, researchers say they are able to preserve the specific flavour of each tree's wood.

期間避免加熱，研究人員說這樣可以保留每種樹木獨特的味道。

So far, they have produced tipples from cedar, birch and cherry.

截至目前，他們已經(jīng)成功用雪松木、樺木和櫻桃木釀造出了美酒。

Four kilograms of cedar wood gave them 3.8 liters of liquid, with an alcohol content of around 15 percent, similar to that of Japan's much-loved sake.

4公斤的雪松木可以釀出3.8升酒，酒精濃度大概有15%，和日本深受喜愛的清酒差不多。

Researchers experimented with both brewed and distilled versions of the new beverage, but "we think distilled alcohol appears better", researcher Kengo Magara told AFP.

研究人員Kengo告訴AFP說，他們嘗試了兩種不同版本的酒——釀造和蒸餾，但是他們認為蒸餾制成的酒口感更好。

Wood fermentation is already used to produce biofuel but the product contains toxins and is flavourless, making it far from a suitable cocktail component.

木材的發(fā)酵已經(jīng)運用在生物燃料的制作中，但是產(chǎn)物含有毒素而且什么味道也沒有，遠不能用它來制成酒。

"But our method can make it drinkable, and with a wood flavour, because it does not require high heat or sulphuric acid to decompose the wood," Magara said.

Magara說：“但是我們的釀造方法能讓發(fā)酵出的酒可以飲用，而且還帶有木香，因為發(fā)酵過程不需用到高溫加熱也不會用到硫酸來分解木料。”

The institute has a broad mandate for scientific study related to Japan's extensive woods and forests, but Magara acknowledged "wood alcohol" might not be the most obvious application for their research resources.

日本森林綜合研究所對本國森林相關的科學研究有著廣泛的管轄范圍，但是Magara也表示“木釀酒”可能不是他們眾多研究資源中應用效果最為明顯的。

"We thought it would be interesting to think that alcohol could be made from something around here like trees," Magara said. "It's a dream-inspired project."

“我們覺得用這周圍的原料來制作酒會很有趣，比如說用樹木，”Magara說。“夢想促成了這個項目。”

The government institute aims to commercialise the venture with a private-sector partner and to have the lumber liquor on shelves within three years.

這個政府研究所目標是找到一個私營合作伙伴來將這個項目商業(yè)化，在三年內(nèi)將木釀酒上市銷售。

"Japan has plenty of trees across the nation and we hope people can enjoy wood alcohols that are specialised from each region," Magara said.

“日本國土的森林覆蓋率很高，我們希望人們可以享用來自不同地區(qū)的木釀酒，”Magara說。