Tea Culture of the Known

[Barsook]

This what started it:

Agreed. Finding a teapot shouldn't be an ordeal.

I'll check into it.

Not one, not two, but three teapots available where you folks were looking for it.  That "dude in the commons" for the win (he looks exactly like the kind of guy that would sell you pot).

Hookahs...well, there's one House you can always go to to find them.  I dunno that it is as necessary an item as tea since you can sniff or smoke spice without a hookah.

Thanks Nyr, but I think tea is still a roleplay prop.  The Tea culture is not doc'd yet for the Known, I think it should, but I think I am be derailing this thread.  So, is it okay if I make a new thread about tea and the Known?  Or is it still a "Find out IC" thing.

My question is why is the tea culture of the Known not documented?  Is it because tea and the the items along it is just a roleplay prop or spice and alcohol dominates most of the Known?  Or is because it's considered a waste of water?

[Patuk]

I think tea would be more common than alcohol everywhere that is not a noble's palace. Tea being a waste of water is a joke when alcohol requires far more water to prepare.

[Lizzie]

I think "the Tea Culture" isn't documented, because there isn't one. That is to say, there is no "tea culture." There's tea, that's available for people to drink, and comes in a variety of flavors and is craftable.

It's no different than "the Meat Culture." There's all kinds of meats, which can be prepared in all kinds of ways, with and without seasonings. It's not a culture unto itself. It's food. Just like tea isn't a culture unto itself; it's drink.

Tea houses are places where you're less likely to find drunken brawls than in places that serve alcohol - because tea doesn't get you drunk. Tea is less popular in places that -do- serve alcohol, because - people go there supposedly to drink alcohol.

Has nothing to do with a specific culture.

[LauraMars]

I like the idea of more documented "tea habits and preferences" for northern, southern, and tribal cultures.

What kind of teas are popular in Allanak? What kind of teas are popular in Tuluk?  What teas do different tribes like?  What are the rumored health benefits of some teas, and do any particular cultures treat the process of serving tea ceremonially?

These are all interesting questions to me.  I don't think tea would be considered a waste of water at all.  Much less so than alcohol, as Patuk states.  Tea is the second most popular drink in the real world, and water is the first.  In desert cultures in real life, tea is a very popular drink with almost as much ceremony and history behind it as in Asia.

[Barsook]

I like the idea of more documented "tea habits and preferences" for northern, southern, and tribal cultures.

What kind of teas are popular in Allanak? What kind of teas are popular in Tuluk?  What teas do different tribes like?  What are the rumored health benefits of some teas, and do any particular cultures treat the process of serving tea ceremonially?

Please staff. 

Really, it might allow non-upper class PC's to enjoy tea more.  Also it may allow more PC's to create tea themselves.

[rodic]

damn you all... Now I want to know more about Tea.

I was kind of curious since there isn't a "tea" plant, what plant would be most commonly used? 
Broken down by region, obviously.
Do these brew contain caffeine or a  Zalanthas equivalent with similar effects?
Or is Zalanthas tea a different ball game?  Mainly for flavor with no real body/mind altering effects?

Is it brewed traditionally like we do on earth? Or do they have different methods?  Possibly Sun tea? (locking herbs and water in a seal container and using heat from the sun to start the brewing process)

Sorry for newbie questions, there's no DOCS!

[Barsook]

We only know what four plants are used for tea.  They are in the Plant docs.

[rodic]

We only know what four plants are used for tea.  They are in the Plant docs.

I can only find:
Yuku -      A black-hued vine often used for wicker and baskets, which grows in the Grey Forest. Sometimes a very bitter, purgative tea is made from its roots.


Although this plant sounds like it be used for the process.

Tembotooth
    These leaves are long, narrow, and glossy green. Brushed, they release a warm, peppery scent with hints of anise. Chewed for their mildly stimulating qualities, and used in cooking

Mind pointing a newbie in the right direction?

[Barsook]

No, those are the only docs.  That's why I have created this thread for this reason.

[Lizzie]

Some of them are pretty anacronistic.

First off - the word 'tea' exists, because of the real-world plant known as 'tea.' The drink isn't tea. The drink is infusion of tea. Or rather, to be more clear, ONLY the drink made with the actual tea plant is called tea. The others are infusions of chamomile, or infusion of whatever other dried herb is steeped in boiling water. There exists no such thing as "tea" in Zalanthas; it's merely what we call the infusions you can buy, and because that's what we call the infusions, we've used the real-world designation of "tea house" to identify the place where we buy it.

Next - there is no such plant in Zalanthas as a clove, and yet there's clove tea. I don't believe there is any such plant as mint in Zalanthas either, though maybe those funky gypsies had a secret herb garden no one ever knew about.

Creating documentation would be difficult, considering you're documenting something that is contradictory (the existence of something made from something else that doesn't exist).

Perhaps instead of trying to create a culture and documentation, if you really love the idea of infusions so much, you might idea the plants that are supposedly used to create them, into existence first.

I have no horse in this race, I don't care if teas exist in the game or not. I just figured you might want to understand that the word itself does not mean an infusion. And yes, that's my opinion of real-world teas as well. If it's not made with actual tea leaves, I don't call it tea. I call it infusion. It's not a matter of semantics either. It's a matter of actuality. And the whole contradictory thing with making a drink out of herbs that don't exist.

[Drayab]

In the south, you'll hear commoners deride tea as northie drink, especially in the Gaj.

In the north, you'll hear people speak of tea as something consumed by bards and the upper classes. Commons drink it, too, of course, but often with a sense of emulating their betters.

This is the extent of 'tea culture' in my experience. Not much to it! Just regional tastes.

[HavokBlue]

If you want to make tea a bigger thing, play a character that drinks tea and invites people to tea and meets people in the tea house instead of Red's Retreat or wherever else.

I don't think documentation is even needed here. This is something players can easily handle on their own.

[Dalmeth]

I forget.  Does tea quench thirst like water?

It probably should.  Cold tea would be one of those ways commoners flavor bad water.

[valeria]

Next - there is no such plant in Zalanthas as a clove, and yet there's clove tea. I don't believe there is any such plant as mint in Zalanthas either, though maybe those funky gypsies had a secret herb garden no one ever knew about.

I view this as the way some people write their descriptions.  That is the OOC descriptor of what the plant tastes like.  While there aren't clove and mint plants, there are plants that give off aromas of clove and mint (and presumably taste that way too).

[Lizzie]

Next - there is no such plant in Zalanthas as a clove, and yet there's clove tea. I don't believe there is any such plant as mint in Zalanthas either, though maybe those funky gypsies had a secret herb garden no one ever knew about.

I view this as the way some people write their descriptions.  That is the OOC descriptor of what the plant tastes like.  While there aren't clove and mint plants, there are plants that give off aromas of clove and mint (and presumably taste that way too).

That'd make sense, if it wasn't actually called clove tea. And, if there existed a plant in zalanthas that tasted like cloves. Neither of those things are true. I think there might be a plant that has a minty aftertaste to it - this might be called mint tea, but it doesn't jibe with those teas that are actually named for the plants they're made from.

No consistency. If everything is willy-nilly, then the only culture you can lay claim to, is that the culture is willy-nilly.

[bcw81]

Next - there is no such plant in Zalanthas as a clove, and yet there's clove tea. I don't believe there is any such plant as mint in Zalanthas either, though maybe those funky gypsies had a secret herb garden no one ever knew about.

I view this as the way some people write their descriptions.  That is the OOC descriptor of what the plant tastes like.  While there aren't clove and mint plants, there are plants that give off aromas of clove and mint (and presumably taste that way too).

That'd make sense, if it wasn't actually called clove tea. And, if there existed a plant in zalanthas that tasted like cloves. Neither of those things are true. I think there might be a plant that has a minty aftertaste to it - this might be called mint tea, but it doesn't jibe with those teas that are actually named for the plants they're made from.

No consistency. If everything is willy-nilly, then the only culture you can lay claim to, is that the culture is willy-nilly.

There is a plant that tastes like licorice. Literally, when you taste it, it says "That tastes like licorice." I don't think I've ever seen -clove- specifically, but that in no way means it doesn't exist. Not only do we have plants that taste like earthen materials in game, but we also have plants in game that are direct models of real life foods. (Onions, Strawberries, ect.)

That said, I agree with Lizzie that it shouldn't be called 'clove' tea in the SDESC. If the taste echo says it tastes like cloves, that's one thing, but seeing it as -clove- tea, and then hearing people telling the waitress to bring them some -clove- tea is just off-putting.

[FantasyWriter]

Or there are virtual clove plants out there.

[Barsook]

Or there are virtual clove plants out there.

And mint plants.

[valeria]

To continue contributing to the tangent, there is a plant that smells like clove.  I don't know whether it tastes like it, but since most things taste like they smell, I don't think it's really going out on a limb.  I do think it would be nice though if they weren't described as "mint tea" and "clove tea" but rather "<this plant> tea" like the rest of the teas.

I would find it really handy if the areas' different tea cultures were included in the areas' different cultural helpfile docs, like the differences in clothing styles.  Provided that there are differences.  As well as differences in food culture and other drink culture, to the extent that exists.

[Zoan]

I want licorice tea now...

[LauraMars]

I would find it really handy if the areas' different tea cultures were included in the areas' different cultural helpfile docs, like the differences in clothing styles.  Provided that there are differences.  As well as differences in food culture and other drink culture, to the extent that exists.

Food culture, drink culture, music and instrument culture, clothing styles, architectural styles and furniture preferences...I could go on all day.  I'd love to have all these things fleshed out for both cities in a document of their own.  I'd be willing to write something up if staff wanted to review it, but I dunno if there would be much interest in that project.

[valeria]

I would find it really handy if the areas' different tea cultures were included in the areas' different cultural helpfile docs, like the differences in clothing styles.  Provided that there are differences.  As well as differences in food culture and other drink culture, to the extent that exists.

Food culture, drink culture, music and instrument culture, clothing styles, architectural styles and furniture preferences...I could go on all day.  I'd love to have all these things fleshed out for both cities in a document of their own.  I'd be willing to write something up if staff wanted to review it, but I dunno if there would be much interest in that project.

I'd hop on board the fleshing-out project train.

I love the little details like that.  They really make the game come to life.

[Lizzie]

That would all be great but as several posts have pointed out - there exists no tea culture. There's nothing to write -about- yet. You need to create such a culture in-game, before you can tell everyone what the culture is.

Be the change, and all that.

[Barsook]

Then I will start it.  Though I think the Noble Houses of both cities should a part of this and aslo the PC leaders of the tribes.

[Lizzie]

Then I will start it.  Though I think the Noble Houses of both cities should a part of this and aslo the PC leaders of the tribes.

Only if the Noble Houses and the PC tribe leaders think it's important enough to create. Tea's been in the game how long now? And until a couple weeks ago, no one has made any attempt that I'm aware of to spread an actual culture surrounding it. There's a teahouse in Allanak that -no one- ever goes to. There's a teahouse in Tuluk that is -rarely- occupied by PCs.

I'd say that pretty much sums up the interest in a tea culture. No culture, because there's just no interest. If you closed the Silver Ginka, I don't think anyone would miss it.