Obviously, it is a town where salt is produced. 當然是因為盛產鹽囉！

But how is salt made? 那麼 鹽又是怎麼來的呢？

Let's find out! 跟我們去認識「鹽」吧!

Hello, everyone. 大家好

I'm now at Jingzaijiao. 我現在在北門的井仔腳，

You could watch the sunset here. 這裡是欣賞夕陽的最佳景點

Furthermore, you could experience the procedure of the salt production 也可以體驗剷鹽、挑鹽

as well as the spectacular view of the salt fields. 欣賞鹽田的風景

I wonder why the salt production is so popular here? 但是，為什麼這裡會有鹽呢？

Let's go and check it out! 跟我去了解一下！

Leon, you could meet my friend Leon 你可以到井仔腳瓦盤鹽田旁

by the Jingzijiao Tile-paved Salt Fields. 找我的朋友

He is the assistant store manager there, and he will tell you 他是那裡的副店長 可以告訴你

everything you need to know about the salt fields. 關於鹽田的故事喔

Hello, could you tell us a little bit 副店長你好 可不可以為我們介紹一下

why Beimen is home to a long stretch of salt fields? 北門為什麼會有鹽田

During the Qing dynasty, 北門鹽田要追溯到清朝的時候

the very first salt field in Taiwan was developed in 1665, 臺灣第一個鹽田在1665年

in the Yan Cheng Village of Tainan. 在臺南的鹽埕區那邊

It was Cheng Yonghua of the Zheng era 由明鄭時期的陳永華

who introduced the solar salt production to Taiwan. 引入這種曬鹽的方式

This process required specific atmospheric conditions, 曬鹽需要在特殊的大氣條件下進行

so in the early days, they moved quite a lot 早期遷移許多地方

before finally settling down in Beimen in 1818. 到1818年才遷入北門

These salt fields were shut down in 2001 因為人工曬鹽成本高

due to expensive labor costs. 這些鹽田於2001年結束

In 2003, to combine tourism with historic preservation, 2003年，為了推動觀光與古蹟保存

the salt fields were rejuvenated. 才讓井仔腳鹽田復曬

Could you please tell us 副店長可以幫我分享

how the salt is made here? 這邊製鹽的方法嗎

It's actually a simple process. 製鹽方式其實還蠻簡單的

The early method of salt production 如果要講到製鹽方式

is a caveman approach: 最早是用土法煉鋼的方式

the brine-boiling method. 把海水中的鹽煮出來

Completely raw sea salt is bitter, 用海水直煮出來的鹽有苦味

but intense sunshine could reduce its bitterness. 而曬鹽剛好能解決這個問題

Seawater is drawn from the ocean. 曬鹽是將海水引進來曬

There are three steps during the process: 簡單來說 有三個過程

First of all, seawater is pumped into the initial reservoir ponds 首先 將海水引到大蒸發池

before being drawn into the concentrating ponds. 沉澱過濾後 進入小蒸發池

These evaporation ponds are used to remove 蒸發池的功能是去除掉

impurities from the seawater. 海水中的雜質

Finally, in the crystallizing pond, 然後 流到結晶池

the salt is extracted from the brine 鹽粒慢慢由滷水中析出後

and is ready to be harvested. 就可以開始收鹽

The whole process takes up to three weeks. 整個過程歷時三週的時間

And if it rains, 而且過程不能下雨喔！

everything has to start over from the beginning. 遇到下雨可就要重來啦！

While at the salt fields, never miss out 話說，來到鹽田怎麼能錯過

on the famous sea salt coffee. 有名的鹽咖啡呢？

Leon, let's get us some nice coffee to sip on! Leon趕快帶我們去喝咖啡吧！

Wow, so this is the sea salt coffee. 哇！這是鹽咖啡

We are going to sprinkle some salt over the coffee. 那我們等一下要把我們的鹽花灑在咖啡上面

Whoa, even with a light! (Yes.) 喔！還有燈 （對）

Let's leave it like this without stirring. 我們就撒在上面 就不去攪拌它

If you stir, the salt will melt into the coffee. 因為攪拌就會溶在咖啡裡面

This smells so good. 好香啊

Have a sip. 嚐一口看看

It's hot, but so good. 好燙喔～但是好好喝喔

Be careful, Leon! 小心啊!Leon!

Of course the coffee is hot, Leon. 咖啡當然燙啊! Leon!

In order to have the best taste 為了能夠同時品嚐到

of the coffee and the salt at the same time, 咖啡的原味及鹽花的滋味

it's advised not to stir up your cup of coffee. 建議不要攪拌 直接品嚐

But be careful, don't burn your tongue. 但也要小心燙口喔

It is really special. 真的很特別

Be sure to try some sea salt coffee if you happen to be around. 下次來一定要嚐嚐這個鹽花咖啡

Besides the salt fields, 來北門除了欣賞鹽田的風光外

the salt production site is another must-visit in Beimen. 絕對不能錯過北門鹽場的建築群

This is where refined sea salt was washed in the old days. 這個是北門鹽場以前洗鹽的地方

Wow, this complex has been preserved for future generations 哇！這裡保留了完整的鹽場建築群

to imagine how busy the salt production once was. 可以想像當時製鹽的忙碌景象

After some restorations, 經過修復後

these historic buildings have re-opened their doors 這些歷史建築再度對外開放

to tourists and visitors. 供觀光客及遊客參觀

What a wonderful idea. 真的非常棒

Where we are standing right now 以前 我們現在所站的這個地方

used to look like this, 就是這個景象

covered with salt. 全部都是白鹽

Because the town produces a lot of…? 因為這裡產什麼？

Salt. (Correct.) 產鹽 （對）

Wow, so this piece of land used to be a stretch of salt fields. 哇！原來這片土地在以前都是鹽田

No wonder the salt production site was set up here. 難怪當時會把鹽場設在這裡

On the southwest side lies the Beimen Visitor Center, 西南側的倉庫群現在是北門遊客中心

next to which you could find the outdoor and indoor brine ponds. 旁邊有室外鹽滷池和室內鹽滷池

Head a bit south and the washing plant will come into sight. 往南走就會看到洗滌工廠

Have you seen the holes over there? 那你看旁邊有沒有看到那個洞

Every room has one hole, and why is that? 每一間都有 為什麼？

During the salt-washing process, 因為它洗鹽

the wastewater would flow down the sides 不好的水就往下流

until it reached the very end. 流到最後面

At the beginning, the salt is around 3 degrees Baume. 剛開始鹽的濃度是大約波美3度左右

When reaching saturation point of 25 degrees Baume, 等到接近飽和濃度大約波美25度後

it will crystallize into grains of salt. 結晶成鹽

It is believed that salt has the best taste at 28 degrees Baume. 據說28度的鹽最好吃

It becomes bitter after 30 degrees Baume. 如果超過30度就會變苦

The whole process needs to be precise 製鹽不只要精準

and done under the sun. 更是需要陽光的洗禮

This is the wisdom of the ancients. 這是老祖宗留下來的智慧

Isn't it impressive? 真的非常厲害

In the past, this was a truck weigh station 這裡就是以前載鹽的車

used to monitor the weight of a truck loaded with salt. 來的話就在這裡過磅

Oh, a truck scale. 過磅的地方

And this is where the trucks should be parked. 所以你看一個卡車的範圍

Besides the truck weigh station, 除了有過磅室外

if a truck ran out of fuels, 如果運輸油料不夠時

drivers could fill up their gas tanks at the green building 可以在綠色建築

as it served as the oil depot. 加油

After weighing and registration, 鹽車過磅及登記後

the trucks then proceeded to the washing plant. 直接載到洗滌室洗鹽

They would pour the truck of salt in here, 然後就把整車的鹽倒進去

Wow, this is a very well-preserved salt-washing plant. 哇！這應該是保存非常完整的洗滌鹽工廠吧！

In addition to the salt-washing plant, 除了參觀洗滌鹽工廠外

the traditional grocery store and 旁邊還有傳統風格的

the Beimen Salt Administration Office nearby 雜貨店和北門出張所

are also very worth a visit. 也是非常值得一看的景點！

If you have a chance to visit the town of salt, 有機會來到鹽鄉

enjoy the sea breeze, 來這裡吹吹海風

go and experience the story of salt, 認識「鹽」的故事

and don't forget to give the special salty coffee a try. 也別忘了品嚐獨特的鹽味咖啡喔

I will see you next time. 我們下次再見

Bye-bye. 再見