Ale
and mead
These drinks are common in the northern parts of Gor. Ale is usually a
grain or fruit-based drink, and mead is brewed by fermenting honey
with water. According to the books, they are usually served from a
heated serving vessel or tankard, and served with a degree of
solemnity. In Torvaldsland they are also served in large hollow
drinking horns. Most of these horns are pointed on the bottom, and
there is no way to set them down once filled, without spilling.
"The tankard then, with two great bronze
handles, was passed from hands to hands among the rowers. The men
threw back their heads and, the liquid spilling down their bodies,
drank ale. It was the victory ale." Marauders of Gor, p 99
"Here, Jarl,' said Thyri, again handing me the
horn. It was filled with the mead of Torvaldsland, brewed from
fermented honey, thick and sweet." Marauders of Gor, p 90
"I held up the large drinking horn of the north.
'There is no way for this to stand upright,' I said to him, puzzled.
He threw back his head again and roared once more with laughter. 'If
you cannot drain it,' he said, 'give it to another!' I threw back my
head and drained the horn." Marauders of Gor, p 89
Bazi tea
This is made from a hybrid of tea leaves brought originally from
Earth, produced primarily in and around the city of Bazi. There is an
elaborate ritual associated with the serving of Bazi tea, and an
example of a Bazi tea serve can be found elsewhere in this website.
However, there is some dispute among Goreans as to whether this
ceremony is strictly in keeping with what is depicted in the books.
"Make me tea,' I said. Lifting her skirt, the
girl went to the tent to make tea... 'I feared, when I first saw you,'
said the girl, measuring the tea, from a tiny tin box, 'that you had
come to carry me off.' ...'Is it ready?' I asked. I looked at the tiny
copper kettle on the small stand. A tiny kaiila dung fire burned under
it. A small, heavy, curved glass was nearby, on a flat box, which
would hold some two ounces of the tea. Bazi tea is drunk in tiny
glasses, usually three at a time, carefully measured. She did not make
herself tea, of course... She lifted the kettle from the fire and,
carefully, poured me a tin glass of tea." Tribesmen of Gor, p 139-141
Blackwine
This is one of the staples of Gorean tavern life. It is the Gorean
form of Earth coffee, but is made in such a way that it is even
stronger than espresso, and is drunk in small amounts from tiny cups
or mugs.
"I lifted the tiny silver cup to my lips and
took a drop of the black wine. Its strength and bitterness are such
that it is normally drunk in such a manner, usually only a drop or a
few drops at a time. Commonly, too, it is mollified with creams and
sugars. I drank it without creams and sugars, perhaps, for I had been
accustomed, on Earth, to drinking coffee in such a manner, and the
black wine of Gor is clearly coffee, or closely akin to coffee.
Considering its bitterness, however, if I had not been drinking such a
tiny amount, and so slowly, scarcely wetting my lips, I, too, would
surely have had recourse to the tasty, gentling additives with which
it is almost invariably served." Guardsmen of Gor, p 247
Most Gorean taverns will keep a kettle of blackwine simmering over the
fire. Be sure to ask the Free Person if He/She wants it served First
or Second slave. First slave refers to the addition of white and
yellow sugar, and bosk cream. Second slave refers to serving the drink
black. When serving First slave, place bowls of yellow and white
sugar, and a bowl of bosk cream, on a tray with a tiny silver spoon
for each. Then place either the cup of blackwine on the tray, or a
tiny pot of blackwine with a cup to pour it into before drinking, and
take it to the Free Person. Then, prepare it as ordered at His/Her
feet.
"Second slave,' I told her, which, among the
river towns, and in certain cities, particularly in the north, is a
way of indicating that I would take the black wine without creams or
sugars, and as it came from the pouring vessel, which, of course, in
these areas, is handled by the 'second slave,' the first slave being
the girl who puts down the cups, and takes the orders and sees that
the beverage is prepared according to the preferences of the one being
served."
Chocolate
On Gor, chocolate is served in a fashion very similar to Earth hot
chocolate, mixed with sugars and creams and served in a ceramic
goblet. It is often served to Free Women, in their homes. Be sure to
follow the instructions of the Free Person you are serving as to how
He/She wishes it served.
"This is warmed chocolate,' I said, pleased. It
was very rich and creamy. 'Yes, Mistress,' said the girl. 'It is very
good,' I said. 'Thank you, Mistress,' she said. 'Is it from Earth?' I
asked. 'Not directly,' she said. 'Many things here, of course,
ultimately have an Earth origin. It is not improbable that the beans
from which the first cacao trees on this world were grown were brought
from Earth.' 'Do the trees grow near here?' I asked. 'No, Mistress,'
she said, 'we obtain the beans from which the chocolate is made, from
Cosian merchants, who in turn, obtain them in the tropics." Kajira of
Gor, p 61
Fermented Milk Curds
This is a foul-smelling alcoholic drink that is made from the
fermented curds of bosk milk. It is typically favored among the Wagon
Peoples in the south, and is served in a metal cup.
"By one fire I could see a squat Tuchuk, hands
on his hips, dancing and stamping about by himself, drunk on fermented
milk curds, dancing, according to Kamchak, to please the sky." Nomads
of Gor, p 28
Flavored Ices
"The High Initiate had risen to his feet and
accepted a goblet from another Initiate, probably containing minced
flavored ices, for the day was warm. Free women, here and there, were
delicately putting tidbits beneath their veils. Some even lifted their
veils somewhat to drink of the flavored ices. Some low-caste free
women drank through their veils, and there were yellow and purple
stains on the rep-cloth." Assassins of Gor, p 141
Ice
An item rarely found on Gor.
"My house, incidentally, like most Gorean
houses, had no ice chest. There is little cold storage on Gor.
Generally food is preserved by being dried or salted. Some cold
storage, of course, does exist. Ice is cut from ponds in the winter,
and then stored in ice houses, under sawdust." Guardsman of Gor, p 295
Liqueurs
It is common after dinner, or between courses at a large feast, or as
a treat during a meeting or a party, for Goreans to consume liqueurs.
These are usually sweet, and are fermented from fruits, sugars, and
various creams. They are high in alcoholic content, but are usually
consumed more for their taste, and in small quantities.
"The liqueurs of Turia are usually regarded as
the best, but I think this is largely a matter of taste. Those of Cos
and Ar, and of certain other cities, are surely very fine." Kajira of
Gor, p 406
Milk
A common drink on Gor, produced by either bosk, verr, or kaiila, and
served in a metal cup. It is sometimes added, in powdered form, to
blackwine. The milk of the kaiila has a reddish color, and a strong
salty taste.
"I heard the lowing of the milk bosk from among
the wagons." Nomads of Gor, p 27
"...kaiila milk, which is used, like verr milk, by the peoples of the
Tahari, is reddish, and has a strong, salty taste; it contains much
ferrous sulfate...." Tribesmen of Gor, p 71
Paga
This is the quintessential drink of Gor. It, along with blackwine and
ka-la-na, is probably the most frequently served beverage in a Gorean
tavern. There is much discussion as to what Earth drink would compare
to paga--some say it is similar to whiskey or vodka, others liken it
to beer or wheat stout. It is a strong fermented drink, brewed from
Sa-Tarna, the yellow grain of Gor. Paga is extremely potent.
"He came to me, bent over, tattered, swarthy,
grinning up at me, the verrskin bag over his shoulder, the brass cups,
a dozen of them, attached to his shoulder straps and his belt,
rattling and clinking... Without removing the bag from his shoulder,
he filled the cup... The water flowed into the cup between a tiny
vent-and-spigot device, which wastes little water, by reducing
spillage, which was tied in and waxed into a hole left in the front
foreleg of the verrskin. The skins are carefully stripped away and any
rents in the skin are sewed up, the seams coated with wax. When the
whole skin is thoroughly cleansed of filth and hair, straps are
fastened to it, so that it might be conveniently carried on the
shoulder, or over the back..." Tribesmen of Gor, p 36
Rence beer
Yes, there is beer on Gor. However, as it is fermented from the grain
of the rence plant (essentially the Gorean form of rice), it is more
probably akin to saki. It is drunk mainly on the vast marshland of the
Vosk River Delta.
"At such times there is drinking of rence beer,
steeped, boiled and fermented from the crushed seeds and whitish pith
of the plant." Raiders of Gor, p 18
Sul-paga
This extremely potent drink is made from suls, which are a Gorean
hybrid between a potato and a tomato. It is distilled, and is stronger
than regular paga. It is a favorite drink of the peasant caste, and is
clear. It is almost pure alcohol, probably up to 180 proof. Think of
drinking Everclear. Some consider sul-paga to be symbolic of physical
love, or lust. It is typically served in a foot-bowl similar to paga,
and can be found simmering in a kettle over the fire.
"Sul paga, as anyone knew, is seldom available
outside of a peasant village, where it is brewed. Sul paga would slow
a tharlarion. To stay on your feet after a mouthful of Sul paga it is
said one must be of the peasants, and then for several generations.
And even then it is said, it is difficult to manage. There is a joke
about the baby of a peasant father being born drunk nine months
later." Slave Girl of Gor, p 414
Wine
There are several varieties of both red and white wine on Gor.
"In a Gorean supper in a house of wealth, in the
course of the supper, with varied courses, eight to ten wines might be
served, each suitably and congruously matched with respect to texture
and bouquet not only to one another but to the accompanying portions
of food." Fighting Slave of Gor, p 277
"Wine, incidentally, is often mixed with water in Gorean homes. This
is primarily because of the potency of many Gorean wines." Guardsman
of Gor, p 235
Breeding Wine
Not a true wine, a drink commonly used to counter-act the
contraceptive effects of slave wine. Made from a derivative of teslik,
it has a sweet taste and may also be called "second wine." (See Slave
Wine.)
"In the concentrated state as in slave wine
developed by the Caste of Physicians the effect (of sip root) is
almost indefinite, usually requiring a releaser for its remission,
usually administered to a slave in what is called breeding wine or
second wine." Blood Brothers of Gor, p 319
Cosian Wine
Produced from grapes grown on the island of Cos, thought to be very
fine.
Falarian Wine
A rare and very expensive wine.
"Among these petitioners came one fellow
bringing with him the promise of a gift of wine, a wine supposedly
secret, the rare Falarian, a wine only rumored among collectors to
exist, a wine supposedly so rare and precious that its cost might
purchase a city." Mercenaries of Gor, p 158
Ka-la-na
This is the most well-known of the Gorean wines. It is a very strong
red wine with a sweet taste and a full body, made from the fruit of
the ka-la-na tree. It is typically served either room temperature or
chilled, although it can also be served warm. It is stored either in
botas, or in bottles, and is usually served in a goblet. The best
ka-la-na is said to come from Ar.
"I turned and, among the furnishings of the
tent, found a bottle of Ka-la-na, of good vintage, from the vineyards
of Ar, the loot of a caravan raid. I then took the wine, with a small
copper bowl, and a black, red-rimmed wine crater, to the side of the
fire. I poured some of the wine into the small copper bowl, and set it
on the tripod over the tiny fire in the fire bowl... I swirled,
slowly, the wine in the wine crater. I saw my reflection in the
redness, the blondness of my hair, dark in the wine, and the collar,
with its bells, about my throat... I did not know how he cared for his
wine, for some men of Treve wish it warm, almost hot." Captive of Gor,
p 331-332
Kal-da
This is a drink made by mixing a rather cheap variety of ka-la-na with
the juices of various Gorean citrus fruits and an assortment of hot
spices. Most taverns keep a kettle of kal-da simmering on the hearth.
However, some of the Free see the making of kal-da as an art form, and
this involves a very elaborate serve which is described elsewhere in
this site. Some see it as ranked with the Bazi tea serve in being one
of the more difficult serves that a slave can learn. Kal-da is usually
served in a bowl.
"Kal-da is a hot drink, almost scalding, made of
diluted ka-la-na wine, mixed with citrus juices and stinging spices. I
did not care for the mouth warming concoction, but it was popular with
some of the lower castes, particularly those who performed strenuous
manual labor. I expected its popularity was due more to its capacity
to warm a man and stick to his ribs, and to its cheapness (a poor
grade of ka-la-na was used in its brewing) than to any gustatory
excellence." Outlaw of Gor, p 76
Palm Wine
From the Schendi region.
"Schendi's most significant exports are
doubtless spice and hides, with kailiauk horn and horn products being
of great importance. One of her most delicious exports is palm wine."
Explorers of Gor, p 115, 429
Slave Wine
Not a true wine, a contraceptive beverage made from sip root and given
to slaves. Black and very bitter in taste, its effects are
instantaneous and last almost indefinitely. Its effects are negated by
the drinking of Breeding Wine.
"What is it? I asked, startled. It seemed he had
produced this almost by magic. It was a soft, leather bota-like flask,
drawn from within his tunic. "Slave wine," he said. "Need I drink
that?" I asked, apprehensively. "Unless you have had slave wine," he
said, "I have no intention of taking you through the streets clad as
you are. Suppose you are raped." I put the flask, which he had opened,
to my lips. Its opening was large enough to drink freely from. "It is
bitter!" I said, touching my lips to it. "It is the standard
concentration, and dosage," he said, "plus a little more, for
assurance." Its effect is indefinite, but it is normally renewed
annually, primarily for symbolic purposes. I could not believe how
bitter it was. I had learned from Susan, whom I had once questioned on
the matter, the objectives and nature of slave wine. It is prepared
from a derivative of sip root. The formula, too, I had learned, at the
insistence of masters and slavers, had been improved by the caste of
physicians within the last few years. It was now, for most practical
purposes, universally effective. Too, as Drusus Rencius had mentioned,
its effects, at least for most practical purposes, lasted
indefinitely.
"Have no fear," said Drusus Rencius. "The abatement of its effects is
reliably achieved by the ingestion of a releaser." Kajira of Gor, p
130
Ta wine
This is a clear red wine made from grapes found on Cos. It is served
either room temperature or chilled, in a goblet.
"It was Ta wine, from the Ta grapes of the
terraces of Cos... In the last year heavy import duties had been
levied by the high council of Vonda against the wines of certain other
cities, in particular against the Ka-la-na's of Ar." Fighting Slave of
Gor, p. 306
Turian wine
This wine is typically served on a large platter, made with a central
space for the wine bottle, and with several small indentations around
it which hold assorted powdered condiments and sugars. Tiny spoons of
various sizes are available for measuring the sugars into the drinking
vessel, and are threaded on a metal ring which is attached to the
platter by a small chain.
"I did not much care for the sweet, syrupy wines
of Turia, flavored and sugared to the point where one could almost
leave one's fingerprint on their surface." Nomads of Gor, p. 83 |
