VOA文化艺术2022--联合国将塞尔维亚李子白兰地列入文化遗产名录

UN Adds Serbian Plum Brandy to Cultural Heritage List

Serbia's traditional plum brandy sljivovica is being added to the United Nation's cultural heritage list.

UNESCO experts gathered in Morocco this week to decide on new admissions to the list. They said the "social practices and knowledge related to the preparation and use" of sljivovica deserve U.N. recognition as an example of an important cultural tradition, Serbia's Ministry¹ of Culture said.

The ministry officially requested the recognition in 2021. The request described the whole process - from growing plums to using the brandy. It also described how widespread a tradition the alcohol is, the ministry said.

Sljivovica has been made by hand in Serbia for hundreds of years, over time becoming part of its national identity, experts say. The tradition remains² common in rural areas of the Balkan country despite an increase in modern distilleries.

Sljivovica is made from locally grown fruits: plums. The brandy is made and enjoyed by families and local communities.

Serbs drink sljivovica when they celebrate and mark important events. People often save their best bottles for weddings, the birth of a child and funerals, making the Serbian traditional spirit part of everyday lives for generations.

Sljivovica is also an important Serbian export and a draw for visitors. Small businesses producing sljivovica and other fruit brandies have appeared in recent years, offering modern packaging with creative designs.

For improved quality, sljivovica is sometimes kept in oak wood containers that color the liquid to a dark brown. The brandy improves as it ages.

Words in This Story

plum – n. a round, juicy fruit that has red or purple skin, sweet yellow flesh, and a hard seed at the center

brandy – n. a kind of alcoholic³ drink

distillery – n. a place where alcoholic drinks (such as whiskey) are produced

packaging – n. : material used to enclose or contain something

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 alcoholic   

adj.（含）酒精的，由酒精引起的；n.酗酒者

参考例句：

• The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
• Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。