Baastea

Baastea is a fictional ceremonial beverage found in fantasy literature and tabletop role-playing games. It is described as a tea-like infusion brewed from dried leaves of a shrub native to coastal Baast regions, valued for its fragrance and soothing qualities. Preparations vary by culture, but typically involve sun-drying the leaves, light toasting, and steeping in hot water with local spices or sweeteners.

Varieties include Green Baastea (light, grassy), Golden or Black Baastea (deeper, toasted), and Night Baastea (perfumed or spiced). Serving methods range from simple hospitality pours to ceremonial rituals, with practices often signaling alliance, healing, or harvest celebrations. In many settings, Baastea is shared to mark negotiations and to ease tense discussions.

Economic and cultural role: within the fictional world, Baastea is traded along coastal routes and controlled by merchant guilds or temple authorities. Its harvest can be seasonal, affecting prices and availability in stories. The term Baastea combines in-world concepts of calm and leaf infusion, reflecting its symbolic association with balance and hospitality.