美国国家公共电台 NPR Seltzer's Popularity Bubbles Up In The U.S.

 

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

We may be in the middle of a seltzer bubble. Americans are drinking nearly 170 million gallons each year, and seltzer sales have gone up 42 percent over the last five years with no signs of slowing down.

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

Further evidence that we've reached peak seltzer - there's a restaurant in Boston offering a $40 flight of limited edition seltzers.

BARRY JOSEPH: We are now at a point in American history where seltzer is more popular than it's ever been.

SHAPIRO: Barry Joseph is the author of "Seltzertopia." He says today's seltzer obsession¹ has its roots in 1971.

JOSEPH: A new drink comes over from Europe in 1971 called Perrier, and suddenly people aren't only interested in flat water anymore. Now they like maybe a mineral water. They like the idea of sparkling water. And people rediscover this thing that we've had around for a while, seltzer.

CORNISH: Joseph says that people are turning to seltzer as a healthier option than soda², and one brand in particular is having a moment.

JOSEPH: Millennials have their own fascination³ with seltzer, specifically one particular brand, LaCroix.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LACROIX BOI")

BIG DIPPER: (Singing) LaCroix Boi - tiny bubbles tickle⁴ tongues, mixing flavors just for fun.

SHAPIRO: That's rapper Big Dipper with his YouTube hit "LaCroix Boi," an ode to the sensual possibilities of seltzer. It's somewhat mysterious how a brand that was cool with Midwestern soccer dads in the 1980s has caught on with today's 20-somethings.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "LACROIX BOI")

BIG DIPPER: (Singing) Peach, pear, apricot, tangerine⁵, don't ever stop. Mango, cran-raspberry - best you ever had.

CORNISH: But it's not just LaCroix. Seltzer brand Polar has carved out a space in a crowded fizzy water market with seasonal⁶, limited-run flavors, which brings us back to that $40 seltzer flight in Boston.

SHAPIRO: Sweet Cheeks is a barbecue joint⁷ in Boston, and for your $40, you get four cans of Polar with four nips of vodka. Owner Tiffani Faison points out that $10 vodka sodas⁸ are not rare in the city. And she says this is supposed to be fun.

TIFFANI FAISON: You get this great, little kit⁹ packed in ice. You get four cups with really crazy straws coming out. I mean the whole thing is ridiculous.

CORNISH: And the seltzer flavors are pretty silly, too.

FAISON: Dragon Whispers, Mermaid¹⁰ Songs, Yeti Mischief¹¹ and Unicorn¹² Kisses.

SHAPIRO: If you're wondering what Yeti Mischief tastes like, Faison says it's like lemon-lime with a handful of Skittles thrown in.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "SELTZER BOY")

LENNY SOLOMON: (Singing) Don't bring me water. I got to have seltzer 'cause water don't bubble, and water don't fizz. Water I hate.

1 obsession   

n.困扰，无法摆脱的思想(或情感)

参考例句：

• I was suffering from obsession that my career would be ended.那时的我陷入了我的事业有可能就此终止的困扰当中。
• She would try to forget her obsession with Christopher.她会努力忘记对克里斯托弗的迷恋。

2 soda   

n.苏打水；汽水

参考例句：

• She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。
• I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。

3 fascination   

n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋

参考例句：

• He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
• His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。

4 tickle   

v.搔痒，胳肢；使高兴；发痒；n.搔痒，发痒

参考例句：

• Wilson was feeling restless. There was a tickle in his throat.威尔逊只觉得心神不定。嗓子眼里有些发痒。
• I am tickle pink at the news.听到这消息我高兴得要命。

5 tangerine   

n.橘子，橘子树

参考例句：

• Hand me of a the ripest tangerine please.请递给我一个最熟的橘子。
• These tangerine are transported here by air from Fuzhou.这些福橘是刚刚从福州空运过来的。

6 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。

7 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

8 sodas   

n.苏打( soda的名词复数 )；碱；苏打水；汽水

参考例句：

• There are plenty of sodas in the refrigerator. 冰箱里有很多碳酸饮料。 来自辞典例句
• Two whisky and sodas, please. 请来两杯威士忌苏打。 来自辞典例句

9 kit   

n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物

参考例句：

• The kit consisted of about twenty cosmetic items.整套工具包括大约20种化妆用品。
• The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。

10 mermaid   

n.美人鱼

参考例句：

• How popular would that girl be with the only mermaid mom!和人鱼妈妈在一起，那个女孩会有多受欢迎！
• The little mermaid wasn't happy because she didn't want to wait.小美人鱼不太高兴，因为她等不及了。

11 mischief   

n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹

参考例句：

• Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
• He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。

12 unicorn   

n.(传说中的)独角兽

参考例句：

• The unicorn is an imaginary beast.独角兽是幻想出来的动物。
• I believe unicorn was once living in the world.我相信独角兽曾经生活在这个世界。