Kres Jah Cuisine

Kres Jah Cuisine is an extremely old style of cooking practiced by the prehistoric civilization of Kres Jah. Although somewhat rudimentary in cooking methods and techniques, it can be seen as the mother to a large number of modern cooking styles present in Mason's Heart today.

## Use of Rebincant

One of the most distinguishing characteristics of Kres Jah cuisine is the use of Rebincant in place of fire. The high humidity levels in Mason's Heart made it difficult if not impossible to start a traditional wood fire for most of the year. Instead, food was cooked through Rebincant, a mineral that outputs a large amount of heat when physically disturbed. The mineral is typically rubbed directly into the food, which is then physically agitated so that the mineral could cook the food.

Rebincant leaves behind a very distinct numbing spiciness that is very difficult to imitate using other materials. As all Kres Jah dishes were traditionally made using Rebincant, the numbing taste is a shared characteristic across all dishes. In addition, the ingredients available for cooking in Mason's Heart all have very strong, pungent tastes which need to be masked using the numbing qualities of Rebincant. In most cases, it can be very difficult to consume said ingredients without it.

Coincidentally, the high levels of spice would often promote sweating in those who consumed the food, which was essential for health in an area as humid as Mason's Heart, and was another reason why the Kres Jah people were able to survive in such an inhospitable area.

## Use of Whirel

Due to Whirel's long term cooling abilities and its high abundance in Mason's Heart during the winter seasons, it is used extensively in Kres Jah Cuisine as a way to cope with hotter days. Meat, vegetables, and fruits can be frozen and stored over longer periods by burying them underground with large amounts of Whirel, and it can also be used as ice in food due to it being nontoxic, as it is made of only water vapor and condensed ambient magic.

A popular dish that features the ore is Cold Spike Soup, a cold, sweet soup with a glaze-like consistency made from gelatin, vegetables, and sugar. The soup is mixed together with crushed Whirel, and the dish is chilled further with large chunks of Whirel afterwards. To this day, it remains as a popular dessert in the region.

## Smither's Punch

Smither's Punch, despite its simplicity, is typically recognized as the defining dish of Kres Jah culture. It is a soup traditionally consisting of purified Uvanor Shrooms and local insects, which is mixed with large chunks of Rebincant in a large, sturdy container that is then vigorously shaken, beaten, and mixed in order to be heated. Although the traditional version isn't particularly tasty, the original dish is still served during holidays due to its cultural importance to those living in Mason's Heart, as it was often the staple food consumed for survival in the past.

Outside of important events, modern variants of Smither's Punch are significantly more palatable due to the increased availability of spices, meats, and vegetables. The liberal use of Rebincant makes it a very spicy dish that is often paired with lighter foods such as bread, noodles, or rice.