Tisa (Tee-sah)

Tisa was a type of bright purple grass seed that grew along the rivers of Bane'ile and was often enjoyed in many popular dishes, especially among the Yi'oritane tribe. It was high in fiber as well as being a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals. It's rich nutty taste made tisa a delicious staple of Bane'ile cuisine and it was often served stewed with either vegetables, legumes or shell fish.  

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Growth & Harvest

  Tisa plants could be found growing naturally in the more slow moving sections of the river from seeds that had fallen into the silt of the river bed. At maturity, the plants would reach eight to ten feet in height with only the vibrant purple flowering heads rising above the surface of the water. It was an annual, but groups of the plants would mature at different times depending on their location, so there were generally three or four harvest seasons per solar cycle. The seeds were bright purple like the flowers and approximately a half an inch long. They were harvested by gently knocking them off the flower heads into a basket specially made for this purpose from tightly woven tisa grass.  

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Significance

  Although tisa could be found in many places on the world of Bane'ile, the variety that grew along the main river running through the territory of the Yi'oritane tribe was thought to have the best flavor and so it was highly prized by all of the tribes, making it a lucrative trading commodity for the Yi'oritane. When stewed with tulivo, the bright orange bivalve mollusk native to that same river, it became the delicious purple and orange signature dish of the Yi'oritane tribe that was a favorite of all the tribes at the communal meals of the Festival of Titi'abule.