Bygeó

A hot beverage known for its bitter taste and invigorating effect.

General Properties

Appearance

Pure bygeó is a dark brown watery liquid.

Taste

It tastes bitter with a slightly fruity aroma. The bitterness also makes it a popular addition to various desserts, where it complements the sweetness for a more rounded flavor.

Effects

Bygeó is most known for making people feel awake and energized, which is why it is a popular drink for breakfast or for working late at night.

Preparation

Core Recipe

Bygeó is produced from the pits of the bygara fruit. After removal of the pulp, which is used for other purposes, the pits are roasted both to conserve the product and to enhance the aroma. Furthermore, the pits become brittle in the process, which makes it easier to grind them into a powder. To prepare the actual beverage, boiling water is poured over said powder which is usually held back by a filter made of fine fabric.

Variations

Depending on the drinker's tastes, further ingredients can be added to alter or augment the flavor. Sweetening agents like honey or fruit siroups are common, while some people prefer a pinch of sea salt or herbal oils. Another common addition is milk or cream.

Cultural Significance

History

The earliest accounts of this beverage were found in the Sundémina mountains, approximately four centuries ago. With the advent of long-distance sea travel, port towns such as Nalanmar quickly became renowned for exporting this commodity. Through international trade, bygeó was eventually spread all over the central continent.
In the beginning, bygeó was comparably rare and therefore mostly consumed by the aristocracy or high-ranking military officers. During the last two centuries, modern agricultural methods and modes of transport helped to make bygeó affordable for the general population.

Serving Conventions

Fresh, hot bygeó is generally served in narrow glass or ceramic cups which allow the beverage to cool off to drinking temperatures. When mixed with larger amounts of milk, taller and wider glasses are commonly used. It is also customary to serve pure bygeó together with a small glass of water in order to neutralize the bitterness.

Idioms

• "Decýó bygeó óar purýr hém"
  "My bygeó holds too much blood", meaning someone feels very tired
• "tek nolcobin pal bygeó"
  "like a nolcobin after bygeó", describing someone being hyperactive or restless
• "Rý ahugar phumu bygeó?"
  "Did you drink cold bygeó?", used to inquire about someone's grumpy mood

by Kathrin Janowski

Type

hot beverage

Ingredients

roasted bygara pits
hot water
optional flavoring ingredients

Consumed by

Nimýrité