Boulderberry

Assorted berries and fruits are common ingredients in Nascindorian cookbooks, but perhaps the most prevalent of them all is the humble Boulderberry, which is found as the main ingredient or garnish in countless recipes.
 

Habitat

Rubacia Saxifragis is a climbing plant that grows along the walls of buildings and natural stone formations or even trees in some cases. It is a hardy plant and survives in the dry plains and cliffs of the Mourning Plateau as well as the lush forests and fields of eastern Nascindor.
  In Haven, there are entire plantations dedicated to cultivating Boulderberry. These vineyards are beautiful in the summertime when the berries ripen into fields of striking red.
  The berries get their name both from their habitat growing along cliff walls and due to the fact that, when not ripe, the berries are so hard that a careless consumer might crack a tooth biting into one.
 

Uses and Flavor

When fully ripened and properly prepared, boulderberries are considered a delicacy across Nascindor. Their uniquely savory-sweet taste profile lends itself to jams, stews, meat glazes, and festive pastries. The taste is often described as “like a plum and a strawberry had a scandalous affair."
  Boulderberries are also used in the production of vibrant red pigments, which are used to create highly sought after paints, especially among the artistic communities of Glarithia.  

Chemical Properties & Risks

Though generally safe in modest quantities, Boulderberries contain a glycoside compound which can pass through the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in Broca’s area, the speech production center of the human brain.   When overconsumed, boulderberries cause a condition known as Balderdash, resulting in sudden-onset verbal aphasia. Those afflicted lose the ability to form coherent speech, instead producing slurred gibberish or nonsensical rambling. In rare cases, comprehension of language is also impaired, leaving the afflicted confused by both their own words and others’.   Symptoms typically last 1–3 hours, during which the afflicted should be kept hydrated, calm, and far away from public podiums.
 

Note for travellers:

The Arachnitha experience intense hyperactivity and spasming instead of aphasia in response to overconsumption of boulderberries. It is considered deeply rude to offer boulderberries to Arachnitha without a full warning.
 

Harvest notes

Boulderberries should only be harvested when their skins have a slight give and give off a faint, peppery scent. Harvesters should wear gloves, as the leaves can cause minor irritation in warm climates.
  Due to their hardiness and natural resistance to rot, Boulderberries are frequently traded as a staple export, though vendors are legally required to display consumption warnings in almost all of the city-states.