Food and Drinks in Faerun

Foods of Faerun These entries taken from the 1992 Aurora’s Whole Realms catalog sourcebook. I only list items that might be of use to an adventurer (either on the trail or in town at the Inn). Bakery • Amnish Molasses Blackbread, 2sp/loaf • Bread, Basic, 1sp/loaf • Dalelands Herb Crackers, 5sp/3 dozen • Elvish Journeybread, (per Player’s Handbook) • Fruitcake, 1gp/loaf • Gingerbread, 1gp/loaf • Hard Tack, 10 cp/dozen • Noodles from Kara-Tur, 2gp/lb o Kozakuran Udon o Wa-an Soba o Shou Lung Clear Bean Curd o Shou Lung Ramen • Chondathan Pasta, 1sp/lb • Sourdough, 2sp/loaf • Waterdavian Tarts, 15sp/dozen Cheese (by the pound) • Arabellan Cheddar, 4sp • Chessentan Lotus, 6sp • Damarite Red, 5sp • Elturian Grey, 6sp • Elven Mist, 2gp • Farmer’s Cheese (pot/cottage), 3sp • Green Calishite, 8sp • Hordeland Yak Butter, 4sp • Luiren Spring (Halfling Mind Cheese, aka “Cheeeeeeese!”), 80gp o Power (Consumable # Poison): Halflings only, causes euphoria and -1 to all skill checks. Effects go away after an Extended Rest.  If Halfling consumes more than 4 ounces, causes hallucinations in addition to the euphoria for 1 hour and then unconsciousness. Once unconscious roll 3 saves; if none succeed the Halfling dies. Effects go away after an Extended Rest. After the Extended Rest the Halfling must make a successful save or be Dazed until 24 hours have passed or more Luiren Spring cheese is consumed. • Nut, 5sp • Sembian Death Cheese, 5gp • Tethyrian Pepper, 5sp • Turmish Brick, 4sp • Vilhon Blanc, 6sp • Waterdhavian (eyed, holed, arrow-shot), 4sp Dried Fruits and Savories • Apple slices, 6cp/oz. • Apricot slices, 9sp/oz. • Brandied Fruit o Cherries, 1sp/oz. o Imnescar grapes, 3sp/oz. o Mixed Fruit, 6cp/oz. o Raspberries, 2sp/oz. o Spiced Pear, 3sp/oz. o Spiced Plum, 2sp/oz. o Strawberries, 1sp/oz. • Candied o Angelica Stems, 1gp/oz. o Apricots, 5gp/oz. o Carrot 5sp/oz. o Cherries 5sp/oz. o Thayan Citron, 10gp/oz. o Crimmor Pear, 8gp/oz. o Honey Ginger, 50gp/oz. o Mint, 7sp/oz. o Moonshae Chestnuts (in syrup), 5gp/oz. o Orange Rind, 5gp/oz. o Rosemary, 10gp/oz. o Crystalized  Marsember rose petals, 10gp/oz.  Grapes, 5gp/oz.  Violets, 15gp/oz.  Holly Leaf, 20gp/oz. • Cherries, 5sp/oz. • Currants, 1sp/oz. • Dates o Common, 5gp/oz o Imnescarian, 20gp/oz • Elderberries 1sp/oz. • Figs o Black Thayvian 25gp/oz. o Chessentan 7gp/oz. • Peaches 9sp/oz. • Pears 3sp/oz. • Prunes 2sp/oz. • Raisins o Black Selgauntan 3cp/oz. o Saerloonas 6cp/oz. o Berdusk Golden 3sp/oz. • Nuts o Almonds, 3sp/lb. o Cashews, 20gp/lb. o Chestnuts, 1gp/lb. o Hazelnuts, 5sp/lb. o Pine Nuts, 10gp/lb. o Pistachios, 15gp/lb. o Walnuts, 3sp/lb. Durable Meats and Fish (by the pound) • Beef o Corned, 3sp o Dried, 5sp o Jerked, 7sp o Sausage, 2sp o Smoked, 4sp • Cod o Salted, 5sp o Smoked, 7sp • Herring o Pickled, 3sp o Salted, 5sp • Pork o Bacon, 4sp o Ham, 5sp o Salted, 3sp o Sausage, 1sp • Salmon, Damarite o Salted, 8sp o Smoked, 1gp • Sardines, 4sp • Tantran finefish, 7sp Preserved Savories • Beetroot Relish, 5sp/pint • Butters o Apple, 5sp/pint o Blackberry, 7sp/pint o Pear, 6sp/pint o Quince, 6sp/pint o Rhubarb, 3sp/pint o Spiced crabapple, 6sp/pint • Custard o Blackberry, 1gp/pint o Honey, 2gp/pint o Lemon, 10gp/pint o Orange, 10gp/pint • Jams o Apricot and almond, 20gp/pint o Bramble, 2sp/pint o Barberry, 5sp/pint o Elderberry, 7sp/pint o Gooseberry and elderflower, 1gp/pint o Greengage Plum, 5sp/pint o Lingonberry 7sp/pint o Rose Petal, 1gp/pint o Strawberry, 3sp/pint • Jelly o Basil, 5sp/pint o Brambleberry, 4sp/pint o Crabapple, 3sp/pint o Lemon, 5gp/pint o Medlar, 4sp/pint o Mint, 2sp/pint o Rosemary, 5sp/pint o Sage, 4sp/pint o Wine, 1gp/pint • Marmalade o Ginger, 20gp/pint o Orange, 15gp/pint o Quince, 1gp/pint • Mustard, 8gp/pint • Olives o Chessentan, 3gp/pint o Shaarite green, 10gp/pint • Pickled o Beets, 2sp/pint o Cherries, 5sp/pint o Capers, 25gp/pint o Cucumber  Cornichons, 4sp/pint  Gherkins, 3sp/pint o Eggs, 5sp/pint o Garlic, 2sp/pint o Green beans, 1sp/pint o Mushrooms, 2sp/pint o Nasturtium, 15gp/pint o Plums, 5sp/pint o Sweet onions, 5sp/pint o Walnuts, 10gp/pint • Preserves o Cherry, 4sp/pint o Raspberry, 5sp/pint o Strawberry, 5sp/pint • Sauerkraut, 5sp/pint Drinks of Faerun Most of these entries are taken from the 1992 Aurora’s Whole Realms catalog sourcebook. Where necessary, I have edited descriptions and prices to update it for the 4th Edition/Post Spellplague Forgotten Realms or added items. Ales, Beers, and Cider (by the pitcher, serves 4) • Ale o Common Local, 2sp  Brewed fresh daily by local innkeepers and tavernmasters all over the realms, every recipe is different and unique. o Dwarf, 3sp  Only the most generous drinker would actually call Dwarven Ale “good,” unless you’re a dwarf. The trait of Dwarf Ale that most drinkers appreciate is the high alcohol content which soon renders the taste tolerable. o Shadowdark (Dales), 3sp  This frothy ale is almost sinister in appearance, with pale yellow foam atop a cloudy brown bubbly liquid. Despite a daunting demeanor, this ale is excellent, with a light bitter taste. Brewed in Shadowdale, this ale travels easily and is found as far away as Luiren; many adventurers who first tasted this fine brew at the Old Skull are glad to haveits familiar taste in any major city’s taverns. o Suzale (Cormyrian), 3sp  This fine-quality ale was first prepared by the brewers of the Royal household of Cormyr. Though its proper title is Purple Dragon Ale, the name listed is its most common appellation. Suzale long ago spread its nutty flavor throughout Faerun. • Beer o Bitter Black (Cormyrian), 3sp  This hearty stout from Arabel is one of that city’s major exports, and deservedly so. Best served at cellar temperature (Arabellans sniff at any other way of serving this drink), the stout is heavy and is jet black with a dark brown head of foam. o Dragon’s Breath (Sembian), 12 cp  A Sembian brew of strong, harsh temperament, Dragon’s Breath is often served with a platter of dark rye bread and death cheese. o Dwarf, 40gp  Dwarf beer is more like liquid bread than a beverage to be savored alongside a meal. It is thick, dark, bitter, and extremely potent; meant to sustain the hall through long months much like iron rations. The various recipes of each clan or hall invariably bring subtle nuances to the drink – which are wasted on non-Dwarf tongues because most consider it utterly unbearable.  Power (Consumable # Charm): +1 Item Bonus to Bluff and Diplomacy Checks against any Dwarves sharing the pitcher until the next Extended Rest. Benefit may be gained once per day. Non-Dwarves may gain the bonus from Dwarves, but the bonus is not gained against Non-Dwarves.  Power (Consumable # Healing): If 1/4 pitcher (one mug) is administered to or consumed by a Dwarf, it may function as a successful Heal Check (Use Second Wind, Stabilize the Dying, Grant a Saving Throw). Benefit may be gained once per day. o Elminster’s Choice (Cormyrian), 14cp  Whether its name is authorized by the old dear himself or is just a marketing ploy (the wisdom of this is questioned: any who know the old wizard knows he drinks anything this side of gorgon’s milk), this dark beer, cloudy with yeast and having a heavy head, is of standard quality. Its bitterness leaves a smoky aftertaste, and is preferred by adventurers around the Wyvernwater. o Golden Sands Lagers (Calishite), 2sp  Lagers are lighter in taste, color, and weight and have more effervescence. Golden sands brews come in varying types, each with different additives to alter the taste of the base lager. There are three varieties, generally the price is the same: Basic, Gold, and Orange. Golden Sands Gold is flavored with cacti and nettles giving it a bitter aftertaste and darker color, Golden Sands Orange is flavored with oranges and currants that give it a sweet and acidic aftertaste. o Luiren’s Best, 3sp  This hefty stout is as black as ink and nearly as thick as the snows of the Spine of the World. Possessed of a sweet flavor and a frothy head, this halflings’ brew lives up to its name. o North Brew (Iriaeboran), 9cp  This brew is best appreciated by less-refined palates, but is passing fare for tavern or home consumption. This dark amber liquid has a harsh, bitter aftertaste (sold by Iriaeboreans as “the bite of the north winds”) that is, for many, an acquired taste. o Old One Eye (Vilhon Reach), 15cp  This beer is shipped in containers stamped with a brand of a cyclops’ head. The legend is that the recipe was learned from a cyclops over 100 years ago. This brew is akin to the lagers of Calimshan—lighter and less opaque than the standard stouts of the North, but with a higher alcohol content. Old One Eye’s fiery red color comes from its secret brewing process. (Rumors mention pepper and other minute spices in the grain mix.) Its odd “hot” aftertaste makes this beer a one-of-a-kind drink. o Tanagyr’s Stout (Moonsea), 3sp  This heavy, pitch-black stout with a low, rich malt flavor—the richest, smoothest, headiest drink this side of Evermead-is a beverage native to the Moonsea region. Long ago it was said to have originated in Zhentil Keep; this dark origin giving the beverage an exotic and almost dangerous appeal among adventurers, rakes, and toughs. • Cider o Kneecracker (Local), 1sp  This cider, derived from local pressings of windfall apples, is often available in bulk. The nature of local presses leads to a heavy sediment, and the cider should be allowed to settle before drinking. Stronger than an ale but weaker than a good wine, this is a robust cloudy drink. o Purple Hill (Tethyrian), 4sp  This clarified cider comes from a mixture of apples and accent fruits (cherries, plums, quinces, gooseberries) from the orchards of Tethyr. By carefully coaxing further fermentation of the cider must, the vinters have produced a fine, fruity cider with the punch of a strong wine. o Vilhon, 5sp  This heady cider is strong in its sweet flavorings of apples, cherries, blueberries, and pears. An exquisite cider, it is best served piping hot with cinnamon or cloves. Wines (by the bottle, serves 4) • Alurlyath (Waterdhavian), 5gp o A surprisingly sweet white wine with a slightly nutty aftertaste, this wine has long been considered “The Adventurer’s Wine” due to its rumored origins in the Undermountain beneath Waterdeep. Its wonderful taste and full body are further enhanced for romantic evenings by its prominent silver and green luminescence; it is stored in ceramic bottles and kegs to prevent its light from fading during transport. The elvish name of the wine means “Best of the Temple.” • Arabellan Dry (Cormyrian), 6sp o This fine red wine is very dry and should be served at cellar temperature to best exhibit its woodsy undertones and slightly berrylike taste. • Berduskan Dark (Cormyrian), 20gp o Berduskan dark wine is a heavy, sweet, and burning wine. It is very dark in hue, almost black, and high in alcohol content. It is highly prized across the Realms.  Power (Consumable # Charm): +1 Item Bonus to Bluff and Diplomacy Checks versus anyone sharing the bottle until the next Extended Rest. Benefit may be gained once per day. • Blood Wine (Aglarondish), 2gp o A product of Aglarond, this wine has a heavy body and deep-red tone. The taste is lush and full, with a slight afterbite. The wine comes from a shriveled variety of grape that grows on twisted vines, grapes said to be possessed by the dead who enacted petty cruelties upon others while they lived. True or not, blood wine has a distinctly heavy flavor. • Common o Clarry, 6sp  A blend of table wines sweetened with honey and spices, pink Clarry is a treat for any special occasion. o Table, 4cp  Wine, red or white, available in bulk as provisioning for a tavern, castle, or manor. Usually cut with water, it nevertheless supplies a merry evening and is unfailingly tasty. • Fire Wine (Chessentian), 5sp o This thick, dark, almost black wine made in the Old Empires is named for the fire it creates in one’s belly. Fire wine is an extremely strong and spicy wine, reputed to have medicinal qualities. • Glowfire (Sembian), 5sp o A pale chartreuse wine renowned for its faint luminescence. Glowfire is neither sweet nor very dry, and has a taste reminiscent of summer breezes and pears. • Mead o Common, 5gp  Mead, a delicate, slightly sweet wine made from honey, is slow to ferment and in scarce supply compared to grape wines or those of other fruits. Mead-making is an art, and the vintner must be careful to neither over-yeast his mead, making for a foul taste, nor allow it to grow too hot or cold, killing the yeast and forestalling proper fermentation. o Elven Evermead, 50gp  Evermead is the elven mead—the one against which all other meads (and any other drinks) are compared. A sip is reputed to be a taste of the higher planes themselves. It is made according to closely guarded traditional methods in Evermeet and allegedly aged for hundreds of years.  Power (Consumable # Charm): +1 Item Bonus to Bluff and Diplomacy Checks from anyone sharing the bottle until the next Extended Rest. Benefit may be gained once per day.  Power (Consumable # Healing): If 1/4 of the bottle (1 glass) is administered/consumed it may function as a successful Heal Check (Use Second Wind, Stabilize the Dying, Grant a Saving Throw). Benefit may be gained once per day. • Saerloonian Special Vat (Sembian), 8sp o This pale red wine leaves a tingle on the tongue. While the recipe for Saerloonian Special Vat is rumored to be over half raspberry and strawberry, with some grains added for smoothness and body, many claim this stable and untiring wine’s full-bodied tones come from the special fermenting and aging processes used to make it. • Spiced Wine o Spiced wine from Calimshan and Tethyr, is a taste treat and a sovereign remedy for many ailments, including nausea, cough, and huskiness of the throat. o Fennel, Raisin, or Cinnamon, 6sp o Anise or Nutmeg, 7sp o Clove, 8sp • Topaz (Sembian), 7sp o Topaz’s yellow-amber color is what lends it its name. It is slightly dry and has a nutty quality balanced by bold fruit overtones. • Westgate Ruby (Dragon Coast), 4sp o A bold crimson wine with a slightly acid inclination, Westgate Ruby is ideal for consumption with a hearty stew or beef. • Winter Wine (The North), 1gp o This unusual wine indigenous to the North is a purplish-blue hue, often leading to jokes that the grapes that go into making it “caught a chill.” This is quite true, as the grapes are allowed to freeze on the vine. They are then harvested and crushed while still frozen. Winter wine is very strong and sweet, and is usually served in small quantities as a dessert. The berries that give it the blue tinge also lend it a unique spicy tone. Exotics • Cocoa, 6gp/cup o This Maztican product is famous among the wealthy of Calimshan with little shops devoted entirely to the drink now opening. Mixed with sugar, and milk or water, the powder forms a thick stimulating tonic, reputed to restore energy and romantic prowess.  Power (Consumable # Martial): +1 Item Bonus to Perception Checks until used or the next Short Rest (If used the bonus to Endurance checks is not lost).  Power (Consumable # Martial): +1 Item Bonus to Endurance Checks until used or the next Short Rest (If used the bonus to Perception checks is not lost). • Durparian Coffee, 3gp/cup o Though long familiar in the lands beyond Eastern Shaar, this beverage has gone all but unrecognized in the north. The dried beans are imported at great expense from distant Durpar and then carefully roasted and ground. Infused in hot water, coffee brews a stimulating tonic, excellent for combatting weariness and enhancing mental acuity.  Power (Consumable # Martial): +1 Item Bonus to Endurance or Perception Checks until used or the next Short Rest. • Shou Lung Tea o An herbal infusion from far away Shou Lung, tea drinking is as much an art form as it is a hot beverage that both soothes and invigorates. Pale Jade has a subtle flavour, while Earth Dragon is stronger in both color and taste. o Pale Jade, 1gp/cup o Earth Dragon, 3gp/cup  Power (Consumable # Martial): +1 Item Bonus to Endurance or Perception Checks until used or the next Short Rest.