Some Spices and Herbs of  Praedia and the Regions that Grow and Monopolize Them

How to use the rarity: If it is rare, generally only the nobility and rich gentry can afford it. If it is listed as moderate, the middle classes - artisans and professionals – can afford it as well. If it is common, anyone with a little money to spend can afford it!  If it is very rare, not only will it be expensive, but it may simply not be available to all but those of highest status (or with the right connections).

Item Use Region where found Countries monopolizing Rarity
Agar Wood

Elven Moderate
Allspice
S. Central Continent 100% Southern Achaean Merchant Houses Moderate
Amber


Moderate to Rare
Ambergris


Moderate to Rare
Anise
Anteian Basin Highlands 60% Southern Achaean Merchants, 25 % Northern Achaean Merchants, some others Moderate
Arjuna

Vendijan V. Rare!
Benzoin A resin from a tree that is used as an incense. The incense is used for its scent and medicinally, to help coughs. Grows in the tropical forests south of S. and E. Achaea 85% Achaean monopolies, some Galacians and others. Moderate
Camphor

Elven Moderate
Caraway
N.and S. Achaean coasts 85% Achaean merchant houses, some others Moderate
Cardamon Used as a spice in both sweet and savory dishes, and sometimes as an incense. Unknown, presumably the southern jungles 100% Imperial monopoly Rare
Cedar
Northern Anteian Basin
Moderate
Celery The seeds are used in savory dishes, the plant itself is added to many dishes and salads. Salt marshes of Mithraea and the Marches 50% Marcher, 40% Mithraean, some others Common
Chocolate A stimulant drunk for both medicinal and recreations purposes and used to flavor baked goods or sweetened and eaten straight. Southern Jungles 75% Imperial, 20% Achaean, a few others Rare
Cinnamon Used as both a cooking spice in sweet and savory dishes and as an incense. Forests of the Southern Continent 90% Imperial, 10% the Sultan of Kosos Rare
Cloves Used as both a cooking spice in sweet and savory dishes and as an incense. Southern Imperial coast, Gateway Islands 100% Imperial monopoly Moderate
Coffee A stimulant drunk for both medicinal and recreations purposes. Hills around disputed "gap" area of S. Continent, some in far S. Marches, Gateway Islands 65% Imperial, 30% Achaean, a few others Moderate
Copal

Vendijan
Coravitium A rare intoxicating drink called blood wine is made from the toxic berries. Imperial Southern Continent, some now cultivated on the home Islands 100% Imperial monopoly Rare
Coriander Used as an incense and as a spice in savory dishes, particularly in Achaea. Grows throughout the Anteian basin Once an Achaean monopoly, no longer Common
Cumin Both the seeds and leaves are used in savory dishes. Now grown everywhere south of Sienova and into Northern S. Achaea Once an Imperial monopoly, no longer Moderate
Diamond Used in Magic ritual and as jewelry Found in the mountains of N. Mithraea, Valmara, the Mountains S. of Southern Achaea (untapped) and the ranges of Vendija. In the west. these are thought to be a Mithraic monopoly. They are rare and often found by accident. Oddly, the Imperials seem to get them too, htough they don't often buy them from Mithraea Rare
Dragon's Blood

Vendijan V. Rare!
Frankincense

Vendijan V. Rare!
Galangal

Vendijan V. Rare!
Ginger Used both medicinally as a a warming herb, and as a spice in both sweet and savory dishes. S. Imperial coast, the Steel coast, S. Achaean wetlands 65% Imperial, 30% Achaean, a few others Moderate
Henna Used as a red dye for cloth and skin and to create cosmetics. Also used as an incense Grows on rocky, sunny islands and coasts of the Anteian. Difficult to harvest as small drops of the resin form on the leaves of the closely packed shrubs. 60% Achaean monopoly and 40% Galacian and Covananter, Imperial. Moderate
Labdanum The resin is used for cosmetics, perfumes, and incense This is a resin from a shrub that grows on the coasts and islands of N. Achaea. 60% Achaean monopoly with Galacians, Covenanters and others. Moderate
Lavender Used in cooking and as a perfume Mithraea and Galaica and S. to the Anteian Sienova produces the best refined lavender oils. The plants are available fresh or dried in many local markets. Common
Live Oak Used to construct very tough ship hulls. Swamps of the Marches and further north on the Mithraic coast 90% Marcher monopoly, 10 % Mithraic. Moderate
Mahogany


Rare
Mace/Nutmeg Used for cooking, some medicinal uses. The North West of the Southern Continent 40% Imperial, 40% Achaean, some others Moderate
Mastic The resin of the plant is collected in the summer. Each tree can produce between 10-15 lb. of the resin. It is chewed for gum and tooth health, burned as an incense, and used to flavor alcohol. Grows only on a few peninsulas and islands in the Eastern Anteian. Monopolized 50/50 by the Megarans and Covenanters. Moderate
Myrrh


Rare
Opium Used both medicinally to control pain and recreationally. Anteian Basin Highlands 60% Southern Achaean Merchants, 25 % Northern Achaean Merchants, some others Moderate
Paprika & Cayenne
Originally southern Achaea, but now also in Northern Achaea Widespread, but generally the best quality is available via Achaean merchants Common to Moderate
Pachouli

Vendijan Very Rare
Pepper
Equatorial forests (Steel coast, Western Coasts of Southern continent) 65% Imperial, 30% Achaean, a few others Rare
Rose Blossoms


Moderate
Saffron
Crocus flowers of Antiean basin, widespread but very tedious to harvest Many merchant houses sell it, all at high price. Rare
Sandalwood

Elven Moderate
Sassafras
The swamps of the southern Marches 85% Marcher controlled Common
Sea Weed
Oceans and seas throughout Praedia Elven Near-monopoly, not because of rarity, but because they were initially the only culture that has a taste for it in general. Common
Sesame Seeds
Anteian Basin Highlands Widely distributed Common
Tea
Southern Marches, highland wetter areas of S. Achaea, the best quality tea, however comes from either the Imperial Home Islands or the Elven Islands Ordinary tea is common, very good tea is 50% Imperial (black) 50% Elven (greens and oolongs) Moderate to Rare
Teben (Achaean) or Veloxus (Imperial) A plant whose seeds produce a stimulant effect between that of cocaine and coffee. They can be chewed raw or the chemical can be processed and crystalized. Grows on the inland side of the warm semi-arid hills that separate the Imperial South Coast from Achaea, as well as in other dry, rocky areas of the Anteian basin. 85% Achaean monopoly, 15 % Imperials and others Moderate
Tobacco
Southern Marches, Northern and Southern Achaea 70% Marcher and Kadman Merchants Moderate
Truffles
Mithraic Forests 90% Mithraic merchant houses Rare
Turmeric
S. Imperial coast, the Steel coast, S. Achaean wetlands 65% Imperial, 30% Achaean, a few others Moderate
Vanilla
Unknown (Vendijan forests) 100% Imperial monopoly V. Rare!
Ivory and Bone jewelry, small carved nick-nacks, ritual use

Common