Camellia House

[Doji Tsubaki]

The rules scroll at the entrance:

The Camellia House combines tea and the arts to create a sacred space. To respect and maintain this please observe the following:

No animals other than Nezumi and Hsieh-Hsieh if with Yuzuru-sama. (A slight difference in ink suggests a later addition to the scroll)

No violence.

No spilling of blood.

[Doji Tsubaki]

Notable Teas

Ceremonial Blends:

Tsubaki: Tsubaki's konomi is available only at her behest and for the most valued of guests. As she still has a hand in every step, from growing to selection and preparation, it is a blend of the utmost quality in the tradition of Crane perfectionism. A deep, vibrant jade green the flavor is complex and sweet befitting the highest grades of matcha.

Hanashobu: Hanashobu is Tsubaki's most talented student and has been granted the honor of serving as House Mother to the Imperial Camellia House when Tsubaki is not in the city. Though her skill is not yet a match to her adopted mother her konomi is still an exquisite experience fit for serving the most important guests of the Empire.

Servants of Heaven: This top-quality blend is reserved for members of the Imperial Family and their honored guests. Only the most trusted and talented of the hosts are permitted to prepare this blend and perform the ceremony.

Strength of the Earth: While any of her well trained staff may prepare this blend and perform the ceremony the tencha were hand selected by Tsubaki and it will eventually become unavailable once she departs. Created as a thank you to the Isawa shugenja who aided in raising the Camellia House the leaves were picked to evoke the flavors of the lands they departed to join the Imperial structure.

Tsuru: A balanced blend befitting the refined palates of the Crane but open to all who wish to experience it.

Welcome Guest: While any tea served in the Camellia House is held to standards that put it above the average this blend is the closest it comes to being pedestrian and its recommendation is sometimes a subtle slight towards the recipient.

Culinary Blends:

Imperial Gift: Based on, but not an exact replica of, a blend gifted from Tsubaki to the Emperor and his consort. This shincha has the subtlest addition of citrus, yuzu of course, carefully balanced so as to be present but not disrupt the natural flavors of the first harvest.

The Lady's Favor: Inspired by Lady Doji this gyokuro has been carefully infused with just a hint of rose petal.

The Lord's Favor: Inspired by Lord Nanzi this tea is of an uncommon style to Rokugan (keemun). Dark and smoky with orchid notes. During the winter season it is also available blended with warming spices - an often unique experience that is seeing some growing popularity.

Little Teacher: A fermented tea - dark, strong, and pungent. A truly acquired taste that most do not wish to acquire and that is only served in private rooms, not the common area, so as not to interfere with the enjoyment of others.

[Doji Tsubaki]

Starting Day 2 the following culinary blend is added to the menu:

Blissful Union: A keemun style tea with a hint of clove, for warming, carefully blended with rose.

[Doji Tsubaki]

Starting Day 4 the following ceremonial blend is added:

Himawari: Blended from tencha selected from the bordering regions of Crane and Lion this tea's incredibly balanced blend of slight grassy and floral notes somehow summons the very essence of spring growth and summer warmth. While it does not contain any of the flower for which it is named the appellation seems very fitting none the less.

[Doji Tsubaki]

Starting Day 7 a new notice has been added in a curt hand:

Those of the family Hisomu may reenter when they have embraced the divine teachings of their founder and rectified their insult given to his sister.