Alphus Egg

Alphus Eggs are a type of confectionery that consists of a chocolate shell filled with a creamy liquid center. A traditional dish within Alphus, they are typically reserved for special occasions, typically after the consumer has achieved success after a significant effort. The period of deep sleep and restfulness that occurs after the consumption is referred to as a "Heroes Rest" by residents of Alphus. Traditionally, the egg is never made for oneself, but for someone else in recognition of sufficiently great deed or heroic effort. Being presented with an Alphus Egg is a high honor, as permission to harvest the sap from Pyr's Tree is rarely granted.

Preparation

The chocolate shell that encases the filling is made of a high-quality milk chocolate, which provides a sweet and creamy contrast to the filling. An Alphus Egg is created as two chocolate half shells, both roughly 1.25inches long and 1 inch in diameter. Each shell is then filled with the the dark blue-green custard filling made with Sap from the Pyr's Tree. A heated spoon is applied to both halves to partially melt them, and then the melted halves are quickly joined together and cooled, the shell bonding together in the process. A properly prepared Alphus Egg contains about 1/2 a cup of the semi-thin custard sauce filling. The collected Sap from Pyr's Tree is carefully heated, and mixed with a small amount of salt and fatty cream, then cooled to it's thin crème form. The Alphus Egg is then carefully engraved by the creator. Usually the engraving either depicts of the individual being honored by the presentation, or of the deed that the honoree performed that earned them the creation of the egg. This engraving can either be an artistic depiction or an inscription, both are common in presentation of an Alphus Egg.

Pyr's Tree

The filling of an Alphus Egg is primarily made from the extremely bitter sap of a unique tree that is only known to grow within Alphus' modest Biosphere. Little is known about this mysterious tree. Surviving records from the Alphus Biosphere indicate that it was initially planted some 800 years ago by Pyr, a name that does not appear anywhere else in the records. It seems to be native to Hesper, sharing some characteristics with other native trees, but there are no known instances of Pyr's Tree anywhere else on Hesper. The sap of Pyr's Tree is a dark blue-green in color and has an extremely bitter alcoholic flavor, with hints of black licorice and menthol. The sap contains both Codeine and Doxylamine, two powerful medicines, which provide the bitter flavor, and the powerful sedative effect that follows consumption. Pyr's Tree is theorized to have a similar life cycle to some Oak trees, with a long period of flowering productivity, with a similar length period of rest. Previous attempts at cultivation of the tree have never been recorded to be successful.