Shochu

A strong distilled alcoholic drink, derived from fermented Yams and other root vegetables.

Shochu is considered a beverage of peasants, who often brew it in their homes... in most cases, local tax collectors and Immaculate monks turn a blind eye to such practices, perhaps subtly encouraged in this by the Scarlet Empress (whether this is true or not, many peasants certainly believe so, leading shochu to be colloquially referred to as the Scarlet Gift). Since the disappearance of the Empress, some local authorities have seen shochu taxes as a new source of income, while some temple nestors with strict interpretations of the Immaculate Texts have moved directly to purge its presence from their congregations so that the common mortals will not taint their souls with poisons.

Shochu is not commonly found at Dynastic tables, as serving such a drink to one’s enemy when hosting a dinner is a grave insult. At various times certain factions and Houses have made a point of retaining barrels to serve to their House Nellens guests, while 'true' Dynasts enjoy wine... this in turn has made most scions of Nellens treat the drink with even more distaste than their peers, avoiding it whenever possible.

Prince Ragara is known to have once been served a pot of shochu at a banquet, and rather than accepting the insult to have openly complimented its earthy flavour. While it has been difficult to prove the rumours that he continued to indulge in the drink thereafter, House Ragara is known to have made small investments in more refined bottlings of the drink, for sale to wealthy commoners and perhaps internal consumption.