Jordan sat in the dim room in Ul'dah. It was hot, steamy and the table she sat at was bare, though the ends of the table were trimmed in gold leaf, as were the intricately carved legs.
In front of her, a Thavnairian man finally sat on the opposite end, holding a still humming kettle. In between them were four cups. The man set the kettle down and at his side picked a handful of dried tea leaves that were so dark that seemed to take in the bit of light that was in the room.
"Acham, from Southeastern Ilsabard, near Rabanstre. This is a dark concoction that is quite strong."
The man poured the boiling water into the cup and let it sit. Nest he reached in and produced He placed the second set of leaves in the next cup. They were closer to a dark chocolate in color but the scent reminded Jordan more of bourbon or aged pot-still whiskey.
"This is Nhamaa's Embrace, from the Steppes. Not as dark as the Acham, but it is smoked over pinewood fires." The man poured more water and let it sit.
Next the man produced green tea leaves, though Jordan eyes small pieces of something else. It was brown and white and slightly puffy.
"This is brown rice tea from Northern Hingashi. Called "Genmai" in the older tongue. It is a fresher grassy green tea with bits of puffed rice to give an earthier note to the palate. He poured water and let it sat. Jordan noted the puffier bits of rice float up like clouds.
FInally the man reached into not a bag, but a tin beside him. He pulled out what looked like a small cake. It was dark green in color and jordan could make out the individual leaves.
"Fujicha, from Doma. The leaves are pressed into this shape and are left to ferment. There are also sometimes rolled into pearls, though true aficionados prefer the bing here." The man then broke off a small, pea sized chunk from the disc and placed it in the cup before finally pouring that one with water.
Jordan nodded. After another minute, she picked up the cup of Acham. She wafted the steam over her face. Warm, strong, bitter. She took a sip. It was strong, though familiar. She wondered if the tea she procured in the Coerthas blends began as this.
Jordan nodded and said, "Aye. Good, though it feels a bit ol' hat."
She picked up the Steppe Tea. Immediately she was hit by the smokiness of the aroma. Woody, Smoky. She took a sip and nodded. The taste was definitely something along the lines of a fine whiskey or bourbon. "Not exactly what I'm lookin' fer today, but quite good. I'll be keepin' it in mind in the future."
The Thavnairian man nodded. "Of course, some of the tribesman take it with Dzo milk I have heard, but I think it is distinct enough on its own."
Jordan nodded as she reached out for the Genmai-cha and smelled it. Clean, surprisingly floral, nutty. She took a sip. After the Steppe tea, still felt refreshing, clearing her palate. It was more subtle than she thought. The rice flavored it but unlike buckwheat tea, it didn't overpower the green tea's cleaner grassy notes.
"Aye, that I could sea drinkin' instead of coffee durin' the day. Don't feel like it dulls me tongue the way coffee or a Coerthan blend does."
The merchant nodded, "Yes, many Hingans enjoy this as an everyday tea."
Jordan reached in and grabbed the last cup, she noted that the small bit the man has broken off the disc had blossomed into a bouquet of broken leaves. The liquid was dark, but not cloudy. She took a smell. Aged, like an old book. Slightly fungal, but not at all of rot. A hint of camphor.
Jordan took a sip. It was very different. Strong and a bit bitter, but not as astringent as the Acham or as numbing as the Steppe tea. It was surprisingly easy to drink like the Genmai-cha, but far more complex in the taste. The tea tasted rich with the flavor of the fermented leaves. It was something altogether new, though Jordan felt she had tasted the individual pieces before.
Jordan set the cup down and thought for a moment.
"I'll take two a 'em bing discs of this one 'n' ten onzes of the genmai-cha."
The Thavnairian merchant smiled and said, "Excellent choices, Madam. I'll prepare that right away."
