《经济学人》双语:为什么藏红花生意难做?
原文标题IraniansaffronThebittertasteofsanctionsTheworld’smostvaluablespicehasbeenstigmatised伊朗藏红花制裁的苦味世界上最有价值的香料已被污化IraniansaffrondealersarestrugglingLikealltheircountry’sexports,theirwareshavebeenstigmatised伊朗藏红花经销商正在苦苦挣扎和他们国家的所有出口产品一样,他们的产品也受到了污蔑Paragraph1:ALEXANDERTHEGREATstewedinitinthebath,believingthatithelpedhealwounds.亚历山大大帝在洒满藏红花的浴缸里泡着,相信它有助于愈合伤口。Romannewly-wedssprinkleditontheirbeds,hopingforabitofarousal.罗马新婚夫妇把它洒在床上,希望藏红花能带来一点浪漫。Todaysaffronismainlyusedtoseasonandcolourdishessuchaspaella.今天,藏红花主要用于调味和给西班牙炒饭等菜肴上色。Butthespice,madeofthedriedstigmasofthesaffroncrocus(pictured),isstillhighlyvalued.但这种由藏红花的干柱头制成的香料(如图所示)仍然很有价值。InNovemberakiloofsaffronfromIran,whichproducesover90%oftheworld’ssupply,cost$1,,saysanimporterinBritain.11月,一名英国进口商表示,一公斤来自伊朗的藏红花价格为1美元,伊朗的藏红花占世界供应量的90%以上。
Paragraph2:YetIraniansinthesaffronbusinessarestruggling.然而,从事藏红花生意的伊朗人却在苦苦挣扎。Arecentjumpinthepricehasbeendrivenbyincreasingdemandfollowingtheshockofthepandemic—butalsobydroughtandrisingshippingandlabourcosts(ittakesmanyhoursofpickingandstrippingtoproduceasinglekilo).最近价格上涨的原因是流感疫情冲击后需求增加,但也有干旱、运输和劳动力成本上升(生产一公斤需要花费数小时的采摘和剥离)。ThenthereareAmerica’ssanctions,whichaimtocutIranofffromtheworldeconomy.还有美国的制裁,目的是切断伊朗与世界经济的联系。Togetaroundthem,Iraniansaffrontradersoftenusenon-Iranianmiddlemen,opaquesupplychainsand