Awm

Awm is a grain crop farmed in cooler and upland climates throughout the Civilised World, particularly the highlands of central Anásthiasplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigAnásthias

Anásthias [a-NAS-thee-ass / ænæsθiːæs], or [an-ass-THEE-as] is an equatorial island continent, heart of the Civilised World. The north straddles the equator and is hot and humid, while most of the equatorial centre is an upland plateau with fertile river valleys, and stretches of arid plains and desert in the shadow of the mountains. The south is temperate but more wild, separated from the civilisations of the north by the almost impassable Harthera. It is the staple food of Torthien and upland parts of Munatan.

Awm is a grassy green plant which yields clusters of ovoid seeds roughly 0.8mm in length, ranging in colour from off-white to red or occasionally black, with a thick husk and a chewy innard. Red awm is colloquially called “hillman's meat” in Deltirot, since it the seeds are eaten whole by villagers and herders in particular, whose domestic livestock is too valuable to eat very often.

Awm is often cooked as a stew, with vegetables, meat, herbs and spices. In Torthien, animal blood and butter are added to it. The seeds can be dried and ground into flour, made into pancakes or flatbread. The residue of awm flour, consisting of the husk and tough parts kernel, is boiled with water to make a nutritious drink for children, or brewed to make awm beer.