Sahfyl

This is my submission for the Cheers! flash challenge
Sahfyl is a traditional Zeribian alcoholic beverage, that is made from fermented fruit. There is a lot of variation between sahfyl produced on different Zeribian islands, depending on the fruit used and the exact production methods. It can also be spiced, often with herbs and chili. The beverage has a strong, earthy smell, and is clear in colour, but it can have a touch of red, yellow or blue colour. it is usually drunk warm but not too hot.
Sahfyl is considered an aquired taste, and has not gained popularity outside the Zeribian population. It is rarely exported, because the local communities are usually proud of their local product. However, it is thought to be important to try out the local sahfyl when travelling to a new city.

Sahfyl ritual

Sahfyl is most often drunk in homes, but can also be drunk as a welcome ceremony in temples, or to seal business deals. It is often served to honor a holy day, or when someone is visiting. Consuming it in bars is not common, but the owners usually have some that they can offer to a friend.
Usually only older, higer-class people are allowed to drink, but the master can offer a drink to others as well. It should be consumed quietly and respectfully. The participants can chat quietly during the ritual, but those who are not participating should wait quietly during the drinking. Zeribians usually dine on the floor, sitting on rugs. A servant will pour the drink to the participants, or pass around a cup for common drinking. The master offering the beverage will give the permission to drink by saying Fin efyl ('Please drink'). A correct responce is either Saxar-saxar ('Thank you') or Hal, seŋufylkam ('Yes, I will drink').

First drinking

A first drinking is an important rite of passage for a Zeribian. For a child from an important family or a first born son this could come as young as ten, but it's more usually closer to twenty. Young Zeribian men are usually allowed to regularly take part in drinking only after they have been married, and are thus considered fully adult. For women this is often only after they have become a mother.

Sahfyl ware

Sahfyl is usually stored in pots made of wood or calabash. It is drunk from wide wooden bowls. In some communities, especially in the inner islands, it can be served from one large wooden bowl, that is circled among all the participants.

by pic-a-flik54

by Ann Porteus

Regulation

Sahfyl is generally only consumed by the higher classes of the Zeribian community, the nobles, traders and artisans. The commoners might drink it on an occasion, or be offered it by a higher class person, but shouldn't buy it for their own consumption. The slaves and impure shouldn't drink it at all. Many producers refuse selling it to foreigners, but they might be able to try some restaurant if they get into good terms with the owner.
A special type form of the beverage is the saksahfyl 'dream sahfyl' which is enhanced with hallucination-inducing herbs. It is consumed only by the priests and sometimes nobles, in order to receive visions from the gods. It is usually produced in the temples and not open for sale.

Other beverages

Lately sahfyl has lost some popularity to beverages imported from the mainland, such as wine and beer. While selling and consuming sahfyl is heavily regulated, these are more readily available to the common people. Drunkenness is very frowned upon in Zeribian culture (unless it's an approved occasion such as some religious festivals), and in many cities the Censors are authorised to beat or arrest anyone who gets drunk in public. Despite this, cheap imported alcohol has created a groving problem in the city slums.