Ke'tcha

Ke'tcha, or "Sacred Tea" is a drink used by Necromancers for ritual purposes. It is a dark black tea typically served during temple rituals, though many necromancers will consume it at home. The tea is described as having a string, bitter flavor but with a potent slightly sweet aftertaste. The tea leaves, once brewed and allowed to sit for a while, produce an unpleasant odor. This is primarily due to a fermentation process that happens sometime after the water is steeped and removed. Ke'tcha is incorrectly believed to contain alcohol. In fact, when brewed correctly and served immediately(as it is in any ritual use), the tea contains no alcohol. However, if allowed to sit and then be re-heated, it can quickly ferment. This process produces only about 0.1% alcohol by volume.

Necromancer Usage

Necromancers consume the tea for ritual purposes. If questioned, they will explain that the tea is deeply important. In actual fact it is quite bitter, though the aroma is pleasant. Its usage is primarily related to tradition; and because necromancer rituals typically take place outside on cold days. The main function within the tea's religious use is to remind the consumer of the perils of loneliness.

Non-Necromancer Usage

Because necromancers never shy away from a business opportunity, Ke'tcha is openly sold to anyone interested in buying it. In any city with a reasonably-sized temple, it can be found in most supermarkets. Ke'tcha does offer very high bio-availability of fulvic acid and other trace minerals, making it quite healthy to drink despite the fowl taste. Unfortunately, it is primarily consumed by none-necromancers who mistakenly believe certain things about it.

The tea is widely believed to be alcoholic, but does not require identification or a minimum age to purchase. This leads teenagers to buy it, thinking it will get them drunk. Even if prepared incorrectly and made to ferment, the ABV is so low you would likely suffer water toxicity before feeling any effects. Allowing it to ferment too long(in an effort to get higher ABV) turns the tea into a potent laxative and makes it taste even more unpleasant. The tea is somewhat less widely believed to have either magical or narcotic properties(it has neither of these things).

Both misconceptions unfortunately tend to trigger public backlash against necromancer communities, where the tea(properly prepared) is regularly given to children. Non-necromancers who believe the tea is either alcoholic or narcotic often call child protective services or otherwise hassle necromancers for this perceived injustice.

Ke'tcha's only unique property is having a very slightly higher caffeine content than most other black teas.

Variants

A very similar product called "Ketcha" is just a standard tea that replicates Ke'tcha's unique slightly sweet aftertaste without the bitter foretaste. Despite being originally invented by non-necromancers, the tea became very popular within necromancer circles. Coffee houses selling iced ketcha can be found on the outskirts of nearly every major temple, and some temples even serve it as a post-ritual refreshment.

The necromancer liturgy is however quite clear on the subject: kethca may be enjoyed but never used in a ritual capacity.