Maiden Tea
A bitter drink, Maiden Tea is primarily consumed as a means of contraception. Being one of the few means to do so and the only one that comes from a harvestable and domesticated crop, the drink is a precious commodity, the production of which is exactly controlled by Linthalia and the Maiden Queen
History
It is thought that the crop that generates Maiden Tea is not native to T'sara, as no God of would have created a plant to circumvent Phoenicia, and most plant life was created well before the Six Sisters made their creations. It is suspected that the plant came about from the Fey Crisis; that the mischevious Fey invaders sought to try to destroy life on the planet by preventing them from being born. The plot doesn't make a lot of sense, given that it was only in one part of the world and only one plant that would normally be too difficult to consume. On the other hand, the Fey, being wild energy and not residents of T'sara, likely wouldn't have even understood the concept of eating or food.
Regardless of it's invention, Maiden Tea as it's understood wouldn't be discovered until a rare famine in Linthalia. With normal being scarce, experimentation occurred. A weedy root plant grown near the edge of rivers was tried. The thorny nature of the stalk and leaves made it incapable of being eaten, but with the right process, the juices from the stalks could be extracted and drank. By itself, it was not a very pleasant drink, but could become palatable when mixed with other ingredients. The consequences of it would not be discovered until the village that concocted the drink had gone without a single pregnancy for over half a year. At first, the village thought they were cursed, but when regular crops became more abundant again, and the drink was stopped, it was pieced together.
It was slow spreading of the news of this discovery, but once it reached the Capital and the other port cities, it was clear that this would fetch a high price for export. The Crown would take over the farming and processing of this plant, ensuring it would never be farmed by non-Linthalian hands. Although Linthalia would continue to be a bread basket, Maiden Tea would shift the farming of the area significantly, and forever.
It was slow spreading of the news of this discovery, but once it reached the Capital and the other port cities, it was clear that this would fetch a high price for export. The Crown would take over the farming and processing of this plant, ensuring it would never be farmed by non-Linthalian hands. Although Linthalia would continue to be a bread basket, Maiden Tea would shift the farming of the area significantly, and forever.
Significance
Maiden Tea is linked entirely to Linthalia, the land of the Maiden Queen. Whether the name is derived from the informal title of the queen, or the other way around, is fairly unclear, as the rise of the kingdom came more or less concurrently.
On a more practical level, Maiden Tea's significance is also an area of controversy in some areas. It being the only known and "common" consumable good that prevents pregnancy makes it a good that has a near global demand. That it is grown and controlled by Linthalia to maintain such a hard control over it means that it can quickly grow to be too pricey for commoners, especially in far inland nations where trade and access is more difficult.
On a cultural level, the monopoly of Maiden Tea contributes to the idea that many have that Linthalia is nothing but a heavily populated nation of greedy hedonists. Those who are known to be heavy users of the tea can become guilty by association. In many parts of the world, choosing to not have children is considered to be an immoral act, and even sacriligeous; against the work and will of Phoenicia. The monopoly Linthalia carries also helps ensure the trade network that is vital to the countries prosperity. Ships of either continent are incapable of reaching each other directly, and having goods like Maiden Tea ensures that merchants and navies don't stop anywhere else.
Any nation seeking to conduct intercontinental trade must reach Linthalia. Those trying to cut through the Bastard Isles are almost never seen again, especially with the rise of piracy in the area
On a more practical level, Maiden Tea's significance is also an area of controversy in some areas. It being the only known and "common" consumable good that prevents pregnancy makes it a good that has a near global demand. That it is grown and controlled by Linthalia to maintain such a hard control over it means that it can quickly grow to be too pricey for commoners, especially in far inland nations where trade and access is more difficult.
On a cultural level, the monopoly of Maiden Tea contributes to the idea that many have that Linthalia is nothing but a heavily populated nation of greedy hedonists. Those who are known to be heavy users of the tea can become guilty by association. In many parts of the world, choosing to not have children is considered to be an immoral act, and even sacriligeous; against the work and will of Phoenicia. The monopoly Linthalia carries also helps ensure the trade network that is vital to the countries prosperity. Ships of either continent are incapable of reaching each other directly, and having goods like Maiden Tea ensures that merchants and navies don't stop anywhere else.
Any nation seeking to conduct intercontinental trade must reach Linthalia. Those trying to cut through the Bastard Isles are almost never seen again, especially with the rise of piracy in the area
Item type
Consumable, Food / Drink
Current Location
Rarity
The plant used to make Maiden Tea is only found in Linthalia, along it's many rivers to the ocean. It could be grown elsewhere, in similar climates, and the Monarchy has been aware of this from the moment of it's discovery. Control over it's farming, processing, and exportation is tightly controlled by the state to ensure they have a total monopoly on the plant.
Map of the rivers in Linthalia, where the plant to make Maiden Tea is harvested.
Image generated by Azgaar's Fantasy Map Maker
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