While this is by no means a complete list of every drink available on Gor, it is a good representation of the varieties of drinks that are available in different areas of the world.
Gorean Ale is closer to a honey lager than an actually earth ale or beer it is a deep golden color. Popular in the area of Torvaldsland, it is traditionally served in a tankard.
The Forkbeard himself now, from a wooden keg, poured
a great tankard of ale, which must have been of the measure of five gallons. Over
this he then closed his fist. It was the sign of the hammer, the sign of Thor. The tankard
then, with two great bronze handles, was passed from hands to hands [sic] among the
rowers. The men threw back their heads and, the liquid spilling down their bodies, drank
ale. It was the victory ale.
Marauders of Gor, page 82
A popular drink in the Tahari and several other select areas, it is drunk in three tiny cups, heavily sugared. Brewed fresh from bazi tea leaves, we can assume the tea itself to be quite strong.
Tea is extremely important to the nomads. It is
served hot and heavily sugared. It gives them strength then, in virture of the sugar, and
cools them, by making them sweat as well as stimulating them. It is drunk three small cups
at a time, carefully measured.
Tribesmen of Gor, page 38
Brewed from blackwine beans grows primarily in Thentis, this drink is rather expensive due to limited trading of the product. This drink is served hot and is very similar to Earthen coffee though is much stronger. Normally served with sugars and creams. If served 'second slave' it is served black with no sweeteners.
On the tray, too was the metal vessel which had
contained the black wine, steaming and bitter, from far Thentis, famed for its tarn
flocks, the small yellow-enameled cups from which we had drunk the black wine, its spoons
and sugars, a tiny bowl of mint sticks and the softened, dampened cloths on which we had
wiped our fingers.
Explorers of Gor, page 10
Warmed chocolate, sugared, is popular in some cities. The cocoa beans originally brought over from the Voyages of Acquisition are now grown in the jungles of Gor themselves.
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A full bodied wine distilled from the fruit of the ka-la-na tree. It is red in color and can be served cold warm or even hot (as is prefered in Treve). The best and sweetest comes from the Plains of Ka-la-na and the most famous bottlers of this wine are from Glorious Ar. This drink can symbolize romantic love.
I went to his locker near the mat and got out his
Ka-la-na flask, taking a long draught myself and then shoving it into his hands. He
drained the flask in one drink and wiped his hand across his beard, stained with the red
juice of the fermented drink.
Tarnsman of Gor, page 168
A hot drink, almost scalding, made from citrus juice, cheap kalana and stinging spices. This is a rather cheap drink through it will get you drunk... sooner or later.. and can be considered quite good atleast until you reach the bottom of the pot.
Kal-da is a hot drink, almost scalding, made of
diluted Ka-la-na wine, mixed with citrus juices and stinging spices.
Outlaw of Gor, page 76
This is one of the many types of fruit juices available on Gor. Served cool and at times sold from stands to passing travelers within or around a city.
I purchased some larma juice for a tarsk bit.
"Is it cool," I asked. "Yes," she said.
Mercenaries of Gor, pg 257
Fermented with honey, this sweet drink is popular among those in Torvaldsland and other outlying areas. Traditionally served in a drinking horn.
"Here Jarl," said Thyri, again handing me
the horn. It was filled with the mead of Torvaldsland, brewed from fremented honey, think
and sweet.
Marauders of Gor, page 90
Three types of milk are mentioned within the books. Bosk milk which is thick and sweet, verr milk which is much like goat milk and sand kaiila milk which is redish colored and very salty.
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(lit. Pagar sa Tarna which translates as Pleasure of the Life Daughter) A grain based alcohol, fermented from sa-tarna, it is normally served slightly warm and is a light golden color. Rather similar to sour-mash liquor in the way it is produced, it sometimes symbolizes physical love.
I decided, if worse came to worst, that I could
always go to a simple Paga Tavern where, if those of Tharna resembled those of Ko-ro-ba
and Ar, one might, curled in a rug behind the low tables, unobtrusively spend the night
for the price of a pot of Paga, a strong, fermented drink brewed from the yellow grains of
Gor's staple crop, sa-Tarna, or Life-Daughter.
From Outlaw of Gor, page 74
Normally kept in gourd flagons, it is a drink popular with the rence growers who produce it themselves. Rarely found outside of the rence islands.
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A clear, almost tasteless alcohol distilled from suls. It is normall found in peasant villages and is said to be so strong that the babies of peasants born nine months later are born drunk. It is similar to everclear and can be served at any temperature prefered though slightly warm is the standard.
Sul paga is, when distilled, though the Sul itself is
yellow, as clear as water. The Sul is a tuberous root of the Sul plant; it is a Gorean
staple. He could have been commenting only on the potentcy of the drink, for Sul paga is
almost tasteless. One does not guzzle Sul paga.
Slave Girl of Gor, page 134
A wine created from the ta grapes in the vineyards of Cos, it is redish in color (or atleast the grapes themselves are) and normally would then be served at room temperature.
"It was Ta wine, from the Ta grapes
of the terraces of Cos...In the last year heavy import duties had been levied by the high
council of Vonda against the wines of certain other cities, in particular against the
Ka-la-nas of Ar."
Fighting Slave of Gor, page 306
Thick sweet liquors, served in tiny glasses, rather like the dessert wines of Earth. Turian liquors are said to be some of the best liquors on Gor.
She picked up the small tray from the stand near the
table. On it was the small vessel containing a thick, sweet liqueur from distant Turia,
the Ar of the south, and the two tiny glasses from which we had sipped it.
Exlporers of Gor, page 10
Thick syrupy wines, flavored and sugared to the point where one could almost leave their fingerprint upon the surface of the drink. It is a very acquired taste.
I did not much care for the sweet, syrupy wines of
Turia, flavored and sugared to the point where one could almost leave one's fingerprint on
their surface.
Nomads of Gor, page 83-84
There are many types of wine available on Gor. Though not all are specifically mentioned there are various passing references to the varieties of wines served at dinners throughout the books. Therefor hearing someone ask for a 'white wine' or a 'dry red wine' should not cause shock.
"In a Gorean supper in a house of wealth, in the
course of the supper, with varied courses, eight to ten wines might be served, each
suitably and congruously matched with respect to texture and bouquet not only to one
another but to the accompanying portions of food."
Fighting Slave of Gor, page 277
"The first wine, a light white wine, was being
deferentially served..."
Fighting Slave of Gor, page 276
A Note on Ice
There was no refrigeration on Gor, this made ice rather expensive to acquire at certain times of the year and certainly made cold storage very difficult. The average Tavern or Inn will not have bowls of ice just lying around for anyone to play with and if they have managed to acquire ice, it certainly will not be drinkable as it will be from a natural source and most likely dirty and covered in sawdust to maintain its chill.
"My house, incidentally, like most Gorean houses, had no ice chest. There is little cold storage on Gor. Generally food is preserved by being dried or salted. Some cold storage, of course, does exist. Ice is cut from ponds in the winter, and then stored in ice houses, under sawdust. One may go to the ice houses for it, or have it delivered in ice wagons. Most Goreans, of course, cannot afford the luxury of ice in the summer."
