Tea is a beverage produced by pouring hot water over the leaves of the tea plant. It is drunk across the world, though some regions favor it more than others, and comes in varieties depending on leaf size, processing methods, and origin.
The kind of tea now found in Cannor and Bulwar is small-leaf tea originating in Aelantir and arriving with the Remnant Fleet, while the Taychendi of southern Aelantir and the Yanshen people grow large-leaf tea believed by some to be the original form of tea before it was modified to better suit elven tastes. The Taychendi maintain a grading system for their tea, with the smallest leaves having the greatest value, which many consider evidence in favor of this theory.
The primary tea producing regions of Cannor and Bulwar are those areas inhabited by elves, with the Elfrealm of Moonhaven and the island of Elizna being the most well-known. Tea is produced in other regions as well, but primarily for local consumption. Haless is also known for growing tea, having done since time immemorial. This tea is of the large-leaf variety also seen in Taychend, though since Jaher's arrival the Halessi have begun growing elven small-leaf tea as well as, and in many cases instead of, their native large-leaf tea.
Origins?[]
Many elves stick to the belief that Tea is a native plant of Aelantir, and that their precursor ancestors introduced it to the Yanshen people and the rest of the world. However, modern Yan scholars refute this and suggest that the precursors stole the native tea from their lands and cultivated it to the smaller tea leaves seen in Cannor and Aelantir today.
Tea Cultures and Blends[]
Cannorian & Bulwari Teas[]
Elven Tea
While often just brewed plainly elven tea ever since coming to Cannor and Bulwar has gone through a few evolutions developing into a few new blends in Cannor and Bulwar respectively. In Bulwar, plain black tea is still the preferred variant, although it is occasionally spiced with nuts or herbs. Elves tend to prefer the more rawer version of tea, with little additives. While humans and other races generally blend it out with a sweetener and sometimes even add milk.
Eliznan Sunrise
Produced primarily in Elizna and a popular blend in most of Bulwar. Eliznan Sunrise is a black tea mixed with a citrusy oil giving it a fresh smell and taste which is supposed to reinvigorate the one drinking it. When consumed by elves it is often spiced with a small amount of honey to enhance the flavor, while humans tend to prefer it sweeter with sugar either consumed alongside it or put in the drink itself.
Elven Silver
Produced primarily in Moonhaven and a popular tea blend in most of the Dameshead and Cannor. Elven Silver is a black tea mix, occasionally magically enhanced to give it a slight silver hue which does not carry over to the brew. The blend is spiced with an aromatic oil made from plants from old Aelantir giving it a nostalgic smell and taste for many Elves, which in turn has come to be greatly appreciated by the other races as well. It is commonly served with milk and honey or milk and sugar, although many Elves prefer their tea black.
Yansheni Teas[]
Zyujyut Dark
A fermented tea considered the strongest in Haless, Zyujyut Dark is one of the few teas in Yanshen that has not changed at all following the introduction of elven small-leaf tea. This is because the King of Zyujyut, upon the Vermillion Throne, has decreed that any who would dare try will be exiled.
Fleet Tea
Produced in Beikdugang, 'fleet tea' is named such for being exported to the Lake Federation through the Treasure Fleet. The tea is smoked at high temperatures for short periods, significantly altering its flavor in ways some have compared to paprika and bacon. It is popular as not just a beverage, but also a soup stock and a way to flavor boiled eggs. Though initially popular primarily along the inhabitants of Beikdugang and their northern trading partners, it would find an enthusiastic new market among Cannorians during the colonization of Haless.
Yanzhong Blue
An incredibly expensive tea blend, Yanzhong Blue is drunk primarily by the eunuch class. It is a blend of small-leaf green tea, grown from plants brought to Yanshen by the elves, as well as the blue pea flower and crushed Damestear. It is a very strong, and very blue, tea. Older versions existed, using large-leaf teas native to Yanshen, but would regarded much less favorably. It is a severe indiscretion to drink Yanzhong Blue in anything but an authentic porcelain cup imported from Rahen.
Chaxiang Spiced
A Yansheni tea derived from Raheni imports, it is popular among harimari who idolize their western kin. Like Raheni teas, Chaxiang Spiced blends strong black tea with spices like ginger, cinnamon and cloves, rather than blending with herbs or flowers as is popular in Yanshen. However, this black tea is of the elven small-leaf variety now popular in Yanshen, rather than the Raheni standard of Mansorudo tea.
Lotus Tea
Created by baking the stamen of the South Halessi lotus flower with imported tea leaves from Yanshen, it is a green tea originally blended in Kudet Kai where it is a staple of festivals and other celebratory events. Blends of this tea are traditionally one of the grave goods offered to the Kai ancestors.
Kangcau Emerald
An extremely new tea originating from Chien Binhrung, Kangcau green was born by cross-breeding elven teas acquired during the war with the Phoenix Empire with tea plants imported from Yanshen. The result was a unique tea in-between black and green, perfectly suiting the palette of the Binhrung, who found black tea too harsh and green tea too weak. It is traditionally drunk without any spices or additional herbs, something very rare among the Halessi though the norm among elves.
Teleni Peace Tea
One of the few teas consumed not only as a beverage or soup stock but as a salad, Teleni peace tea is traditionally pickled in the same barrel as plantains to take on their flavoring. It is often gifted as a symbolic gesture of peace and reconciliation, with the winner of a Teleni election gifting it to their former rivals to show respect and their acceptance of the tea also indicating their acceptance of the results.
Goldscale Butter Tea
Produced exclusively by the kobolds of Balrijin, yak butter tea is a creamy beverage created out of fermented large-leaf black tea, yak butter, and salt. The average goldscale kobold is said to consume up to 60 cups daily, but the drink has almost no popularity beyond them.
Raheni Teas[]
Mansorudo Tea
The native Halessi tea with the smallest leaves and highest grade, it is wildly popular among the Beikling Yan and Upper Raheni but is rare owing to it growing near-exclusively inside and adjacent to the territory of the Azjakuma oni. Itâs value has been matched by imported elven small-leaf green teas, but it remains the most valued black tea in Haless and the majority of small-leaf black Halessi teas originate from attempts to steal or reproduce it.