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無垢之果實 - 餘甘子 Amalaki


餘甘子 Myrobalan

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雖然驟雨不斷,但一粒粒青翠欲滴的餘甘子已經靜悄悄地掛在後山的樹上。由於餘甘子的葉子排列極似怕醜草,所以它的幼苗經常被誤認。

大家對餘甘子的深刻印象,可能是苦盡回甘的獨特風味!正因為如此,『餘甘子』才得名吧!客家話中稱『有甘』,後來被人叫它做『油甘子』。 但本人品嚐後,只覺得它苦,苦到打冷震,酸澀味像觸電般瞬間傳遍全身。

餘甘子的樹葉曬乾後,可以作為枕頭的填料,有透氣安眠的作用,是古老的傳統智慧啊!荃灣的油柑頭村,相傳這個地方曾經盛產餘甘子,因而得名。

根據網上的其他資料,餘甘子也跟佛教結下不解之緣,尊稱『印度聖果』。餘甘子果實的梵文譯音為『菴摩洛迦』,無垢的意思。 大家以後食餘甘子的時候,除了苦盡甘來,還可能多一番佛的領悟呢?

 

參考資料 Reference

 

I went to the backyard for a walk after heavy rainfall and fortunately met the fruit-bearing Myrobalans. The seedling of the Myrobalan is often mistaken for the Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica) as their extremely similar arrangement of leaves.

The Chinese name "Yu-gum" can reflect the special sweet aftertaste of fruits. It is also called as "Yau-gum", which means sweet in Hakka.

Traditionally, the dried leaves of Myrobalan are nicely ventilated and comfortable fillers of the pillow.

In Hong Kong, a village is believed to grow many Myrobalan trees in the past and was named as Yau Kom Tau in Chinese.

In addition, the fruit of Myrobalan is also well-known in India and in Buddhism.

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