Takala Noodles

We are not just consumers of this food, but we are quite alike. It grows in the harshest of environment and yet persists. It is resilient, like each person of out nation.
— Queen Teyvenya Dolvalyn

Takala Noodles (from the Dark Elvish takâ meaning "dry" and lamara meaning "grain") are a staple food within the Dolvalyn Sovereignty. They have a dark grey color and a slightly earthy after taste, but are one of the most abundant foods within the Sovereignty.

Description

Grown in abundance around several of the scorched lands of the Dolvalyn Sovereignty, the Takala Grain can be grown without the need for irrigation as it gains most of its nutrients and minerals from the magical potential that has been scarred into the Sovereignty as a result of the effects of The Shatter. When the Takala Grain is crushed and combined with some water the resulting dough is a dark gray due to the removal of the magical nutrients. Though many attempts were made to use this dough in a multitude of ways, the most successful and tasty of these was in stretching out this dough and forming it into thin strands that when boiled creates a nice base upon which many meals can be made. The noodles themselves resemble dark gray strings and take on a large amount of flavor from the other parts of their dish. They are commonly used as a side to more nourishing meat dishes, but are also used in broths and as a part of a larger course of meals. They are traditionally served to guests first and given dry alongside a compliment of sauces that can alter the taste profile quite potently.

Takala Noodles

Basic information

Type	Staple Food

Culinary Information

Ingredients	Takala Grain and Water
Flavor	Savory and yet with a slight Earthy after taste
Color	Dark Gray

Historical Information

Available In	Dolvalyn Sovereignty, Ossalimar

History

In the early centuries after The Shatter, the burgeoning group of people that were released from under the influence of The Faceless One and The Frozen Queen needed food to sustain themselves. The lands of the Sovereignty were scarred by the deities influence, with much of the water and surfaces unable to grow traditional grains. By 210 AR, an arcane practitioner discovered and was able to grow the first Takala Grain. They found that the soil was rich in strange magical energies that helped to provide a specific strand of grain enough resources for it to grow. They used the first strand of the grain to tinker and devise the most efficient recipe to use the grain, resulting in the creation of the Takala Noodles. They brought the dish to the leader of the newly formed Dolvalyn Sovereignty who impressed with the resilience of the grain and the versatility of the noodles proclaimed them as the core of Sovereignty dining. From this, the grain and noodles became a prominent part of Sovereignty culture, with the meal being decreed a "culinary representation of the resilience of their people". By 755 AR, the Takala Noodles have become a standard and staple food of the Sovereignty, with it being present at every meal, regardless of what is being served. The meal has also become a symbol of kindness towards guests. In Sovereignty customs, a guest is to be served first a dish of Takala Noodles alongside three sauces that each imbue the noodles with a specific flavor profile: sour, sweet, and spicy. Each of these sauces help to determine the mood of the guest as they enter the house, so the household can best help them settle into their locale.

Recipes

Dish	Ingredients	Description
Takala Vavrhima	Takala Noodles, Marhos sauce, Cavosa sauce, Vasnagrath sauce	Commonly served to different guests when they arrive at a household, Takala Vavrhima is used as a measure of the guest's mood: Marhos (or death) sauce is a spicy condiment meaning the person is harboring aggression or vengeance; Cavosa (or songful) sauce makes the noodles sweet and means that the person is full of joy or happiness; Vasnagrath (or lifeless) sauce has a sour flavor, but often means that the person is in no particular mood at the moment.
Fuislau Mondarai	Takala Noodles, Merryn meat, Marhos sauce	A main dish for many people, the Merryn meat is tenderized and chopped into a dish of Marhos sauce and water to create a rich and meaty broth. This broth is cooked on a low heat for a few hours, until the meat is nice and tender and the flavor is deep. The Takala Noodles are then placed into the broth and cooked for a few minutes, until the noodles absorb some of the broth. The result is tender meat and well cooked and flavored noodles, with a slight spice to the whole meal.