Tea, also known as a tisane or infusion, was a common beverage drunk across Faerûn and Kara-Tur.[1][2][3] In Wa-an, it was called cha.[5]
Brewing[]
In Faerûn, teas were commonly brewed by pouring boiling water into a container filled with tea leaves, which were then strained out. In the Shining South, leaves were whisked in a bowl and powdered to make a murky brew, while port cities picked up assorted methods from travelers from other lands.[3] Brewing tea could also involve tea bags (counted among magical laboratory equipment and valued at 1 cp a bag)[6] and tea pots (3 sp).[7]
In Faerûn, tea leaves were typically stored in metal coffers, which had greater value than the cheap tea within. Their lids were sealed air-tight with an edible gum or oil, known as "sticky-rim". Among the poor, tea leaves were often reused. People dried them on a shield in the sun before putting them back in the pot, with a few fresh leaves, to brew them again.[3]
In Kara-Tur, necessary implements for tea making included a dedicated table, a brazier, a kettle, and a tea caddy. These could be family heirlooms and works of art.[8] A simple tea set might be made of bamboo.[9]
Tea in Kara-Tur[]
Tea was the most common beverage across Kara-Tur, typically enjoyed at the midday meal and in the afternoon,[2] or at breakfast.[10] Tea drinking was elevated to a refined art by the Shou.[1] It was very fashionable among the Kozakuran noble and samurai classes.[11] In Wa, tea and sake were served as refreshments to guests.[12]
Dedicated tea houses could be found in Shou Lung,[13] Kozakura,[14] and Wa.[15] Wa also had tea gardens[16] and tea rooms in noble houses.[17]
There were a great many variations. Most folk had it plain, but the nomads added milk and sugar, and even made it into a soup.[2] In Wa, a green tea broth was used for serving soba noodles.[18] The Tuigans had their tea with salt and milk. The Khazari had theirs with butter and sugar.[19]
Tea in Faerûn[]
A harvest of Chultan tea leaves.
In Faerûn, homegrown teas were largely tisanes or infusions of herbs and the leaves of various different plants,[3] such as spearmint,[20] rather than proper "tea" plants. These were made from local wild plants, picked by country folk and their children as needed. Hence, they varied widely and travelers expected tea to taste different from place to place. Actual teas were only easy to get in rich cities, such as Athkatla and Calimport, where clubs of tea-fanciers paid highly for them.[3]
Tea was a common beverage, usually served to quench thirst in restaurants[3][note 1] or as a non-alcoholic beverage at social functions,[21] or enjoyed as an afternoon snack.[22] It was always served plain; milk was never used[3] but sugar might be added.[22] An afternoon tea could be enjoyed with fruitcakes, crackers,[23] or shortbread.[20]
Medicinal herbs could be taken by brewing them as a tea, such as for dathlil.[25] A balm made from tea leaves was a common salve for open wounds; it had no real effect.[26]
A species of tea grew on the Chultan Peninsula known as chatali.[27] Locals commonly brewed their tea with cinnamon, sugar, and milk,[28] and there existed tea houses in Port Nyanzaru.[27]
Trade[]
In Shou Lung, Shangtou and Keelung were renowned for their fine teas, while much tea was produced in Hungtse province.[29] In Wa, almost every farm included a good number of tea bushes, which were sometimes planted in lines to mark properties and boundaries.[30]
Tea was still a recent introduction to Kozakura by the 1350s DR, but it fast became a key commodity, owing to its popularity among the upper classes. It was cultivated on warm mountain slopes in Miyama Province, but while the volume of production was still small, the land used for tea-growing was increasing.[11]
Shou teas were introduced to Faerûn in the early 1360s DR through Aurora's Emporium, with at least two varieties (Pale Jade and Earth Dragon's Eye) made available for purchase through Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. Teas from Shou Lung were known for being both invigorating and soothing.[1]
Owing to their strictly local nature, Faerûnian teas were rarely traded far or priced highly. They were traded so little that no authority levied duties on tea commerce, not even by the caravan (only any regular fees for ships docking or wagons entering city gates applied). In fact, dedicated tea traders were even viewed with suspicion, as if they were mad or engaged in something underhanded instead. Because of this, trading coffee was more profitable and popular than tea.[3]
Cost[]
In Kara-Tur, 1 pound (450 grams) of tea cost 1 tael.[4] Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue sold the same amount of Pale Jade for 20 gold pieces and Earth Dragon's Eye for 50 gold pieces.[1]
Magic & Ritual[]
A tea set.
Tea was a possible material component for a shukenja's protection from evil, 10' radius, replacing holy water in tracing a circle on the ground.[31]
The tea ceremony was a vital ritual practiced by nobility and merchants in some lands of Kara-Tur, with the aim of instilling complete calm[32][15] or demonstrating full and proper courtesy.[33]
Some people read tea leaves as a means of divination. This was used by some members of the silver ladies of Selûne.[34]
Chultan tea was used in preparation of curative infusions that treated several common afflictions. This pleasant-tasting remedy was concocted using tea, woad, senna leaves, and spins water.[28]
Tea Varieties[]
A traditional vessel for serving Turmishan herbal honey-colored tea.
Some varieties of tea were:
- Beorunna's cure-all
- Butter tea
- Calimport blend tea[35]
- Earth Dragon's Eye
- Green tea[18][36]
- Long Jing
- Mallow
- Mummy's tea
- Nararoot
- Pale Jade
- Sandberry bush
- Sweet pear tea[37]
- Ticklemint tea
- Vauge tea
- West Lake Dragon Well[38]
- See Category:Teas
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ According to Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms, page 94, "Tea in most dining houses (restaurants) replaces the real-world 'dusty glass of water on the table.'"
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External Links[]
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.
Tea article at the Baldur's Gate 3 Community Wiki, a community wiki for Baldur's Gate 3.- Tea article at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 134. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Gary Gygax, David Cook, and François Marcela-Froideval (1985). Oriental Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 139. ISBN 0-8803-8099-3.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 94. ISBN 0786960345.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Gary Gygax, David Cook, and François Marcela-Froideval (1985). Oriental Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 40. ISBN 0-8803-8099-3.
- ↑ Nigel Findley (1990). Ninja Wars. (TSR, Inc), p. 15. ISBN 0-8803-8895-1.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 40. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 66. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ Jon Pickens, et al. (December 1986). Night of the Seven Swords. Edited by Karen S. Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 43, 45. ISBN 0-88038-327-5.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (1987). Ochimo: The Spirit Warrior. (TSR, Inc), p. 21. ISBN 0-88038-393-3.
- ↑ Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume I). (TSR, Inc), p. 38. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 David Cook (1986). Swords of the Daimyo (Province Book of Miyama). (TSR, Inc), p. 7. ISBN 0-88038-273-2.
- ↑ Nigel Findley (1990). Ninja Wars. (TSR, Inc), pp. 7, 13, 15, 20, 29. ISBN 0-8803-8895-1.
- ↑ Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume I). (TSR, Inc), p. 3. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
- ↑ Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume II). (TSR, Inc), p. 148. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume II). (TSR, Inc), p. 162. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
- ↑ Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume II). (TSR, Inc), p. 164. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
- ↑ Nigel Findley (1990). Ninja Wars. (TSR, Inc), p. 7. ISBN 0-8803-8895-1.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 120. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ David Cook (May 1990). Horselords. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 3, p. ?. ISBN 0-8803-8904-4.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Eric Menge (2004). Legacy of the Green Regent: Nurture and Nature. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 10.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 20. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 17, 113. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), pp. 119–120. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 96. ISBN 0786960345.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 39. ISBN 0786960345.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 142. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Adam Lee (2017-10-31). Fiction: Qawasha & Kupalué Part Two (Web). In Matt Chapman, Bart Carroll eds. Dragon+ #16. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2022-08-15. Retrieved on 2024-06-04.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Cryptic Studios (June 2013). Neverwinter. Perfect World Entertainment.
- ↑ Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume I). (TSR, Inc), pp. 11, 12, 13. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
- ↑ Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume II). (TSR, Inc), p. 177. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
- ↑ Gary Gygax, David Cook, and François Marcela-Froideval (1985). Oriental Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 66. ISBN 0-8803-8099-3.
- ↑ Gary Gygax, David Cook, and François Marcela-Froideval (1985). Oriental Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 55. ISBN 0-8803-8099-3.
- ↑ Teos Abadia (October 2011). “The Five Deadly Shadows”. In Chris Winters ed. Dungeon #195 (Wizards of the Coast) (195)., pp. 4–7. Archived from the original on 2013-05-09.
- ↑ John Terra (February 1996). Warriors and Priests of the Realms. Edited by Steven E. Schend. (TSR, Inc), p. 102. ISBN 0-7869-0368-6.
- ↑ n-Space (October 2015). Designed by Dan Tudge, et al. Sword Coast Legends. Digital Extremes.
- ↑ Jon Pickens, et al. (December 1986). Night of the Seven Swords. Edited by Karen S. Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 43. ISBN 0-88038-327-5.
- ↑ Larian Studios (October 2020). Designed by Swen Vincke, et al. Baldur's Gate III. Larian Studios.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell (2008). Plague of Spells. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 10. ISBN 978-0786949656.