彼岸花 • 薬種屋

Higanbana Apothecary

Mateus, the Mist, 5th Ward, Plot 20
NPC Hours: 24/7 • Non-NPC Hours: Sundays, 5-7 PM Pacific / 7-9 PM Central / 8-10 PM Eastern

2024 Upcoming Closures:
February 18 - Personal Holiday
March 24 - Personal Holiday
March 31 - Personal Holiday
May 5 - Personal Holiday
May 26 - Personal Holiday
June 30 ~ August 4 - Dawntrail Release
September 15 - Personal Holiday
October 20 - Personal Holiday
November 17 - Personal Holiday
December 15 - Personal Holiday
December 29 - Personal Holiday

Huge thank you to Fame & Hoes for leaving a lovely review of the shop! Read the article here.

Join our Discord server here and our Fellowship "Higanbana Apothecary" as well!

DECEMBER SPECIALS

We have the Yanxian Pine Scented Candles , Persimmon Scented Candles, and Mistletoes available for purchase at the apothecary! The Yanxian Pine Scented Candles and Persimmon Scented Candles are handcrafted by Eden and Odgan from Yanxian Pine Trees and Persimmons from the Friges. The Mistle toe is a poisonous, parasitic plant which survives by attaching itself to other larger plants. It is often gathered and put on display during regional winter festivals.At the teashop, we will be serving the Starlight Donuts, slices of Starlight Cakes, and Hot Chocolates this moon! The Starlight Donuts are festive treats for those who prefer to express their Starlight spirit through eating until they lose consciousness. The Starlight Cake is composed of layer after layer after layer... After layer of sweet, decadent heaven. Both desserts are made by our talented chef, Xembre Adrias! The Hot Chocolate is a sweet beverage commonly drunk in the Holy See, but rarely seen in Foundation due to inability of most Ishgard's poorer residents to procure the relatively rare and expensive ingredients.

About

Higanbana Apothecary consists of a pharmacy and a tea shop. You can purchase over-the-counter medicines as well as prescription drugs along with other variety of herbs at the pharmacy, and you can also enjoy authentic Far Eastern herbal teas and snacks at the tea shop.The orders at the tea shop can be made for dine-in or take-out, and the teas can be purchased in sachets as well to be reserved for later.The business itself is under the Tsurugi Clan and the stocks are also supplied by them. However, this information should not be publicly known aside from few information brokers and/or members of other clans in the Far East.

Business Partnership

If you are a regular to the shop, but also have a business of your own, perhaps you have taken a great liking of Higanbana Apothecary and you're interested in having us provide you and your business some of the supplies at a discount in return of some perks, such as free advertising, access to VIP room at the teashop, and meal vouchers!For those who are interested in becoming a business partner with Higanbana Apothecary please reach out to Eden Tsurugi in game or @1emon on Discord!

A Ghost at Higanbana Apothecary?!


Back in November (2022), incredibly threatening posters were posted in every wards at the Mist:

An item has been stolen from our shop: a pair of sheep plushes dressed in traditional Far Eastern garb. If you're the culprit, pray kindly return it back to us...If anyone else finds and returns it to us, we will reward you with a free meal at our tea shop!

At the bottom of the poster showed a decent sketch of the said item and disclosed Eden's name, signature, and the shop's address.The day after the incident, Xembre Adrias visited the shop and attempted to aid in finding any clues of the thief. However, Eden was very convinced it was a ghost that had stolen the sheep dolls. While Xembre had to leave early, Eden and Haki Betel decided to perform an old Hingan ritual that allows one to communicate with ghosts and spirits nearby (Kokkuri-san, aka a Japanese equivalent of the Ouijia board).The ritual was successful in calling a rather peaceful ghost, providing the two with the answers that it was indeed not a ghost or a spirit that had stolen the sheep dolls from the shop and that the dolls were not in the shop either. That said, psychics and those with aether sight may feel/see a presence at the shop...That night before closing the shop, Eden began lighting mourning incense sticks in the shop with a small cup of sake in front of the decorative shrine at the tea shop regularly. Two talismans have also been placed at the shop as well - one outside above the main entrance to the shop and another above the sliding door to the teashop in the hallway.Few weeks pass and a shaman from the Steppe, Taichu Kha and his bodyguard, Kusuri Naeuri visited the shop and confirmed it was indeed a friendly spirit of a dog! Perhaps one may occasionally hear faint sound of a dog whining or panting, especially when dining in at the tea shop!Taichu later on discovered a spiritual cup in the shop - perhaps affected by the dog's presence. Eden was informed that the cup must always be placed at a sacred location, such as a shrine, or have offerings inside of it.Altaichin Nergui from the Ember Adventuring Co. who's also a shaman has found out that the dog once belonged to a very old seaman! The dog unfortunately passed on the beach long ago from not being able to return to its owner's ship. Therefore, it was a weak, lingering ghost until Eden and Haki had performed the ritual, Kokkuri-san, calling it up stronger!After Eden had been taking care of the dog for a year now and counting, he decides to help Guigou be visible to everyone including himself by having him wear a white cloth sheet with two holes cut out for his eyes (even though they will still be invisible) with a brown leather collar that would have a gold tag attached with his name engraved on it. Guigou also now acts as an assistant at the shop by going to ventures and even making deliveries!An event of Guigou's return from his duty will be triggered half-way through our hours of operation. So, when he’s on duty, you will see with a brown leather satchel on his back.Note: The name Guigou was given by Taichu and Kusuri, meaning... Ghost dog!

Menu

DECEMBER SPECIALS

At the teashop, we will be serving the Starlight Donuts, slices of Starlight Cakes, and Hot Chocolates this moon! The Starlight Donuts are festive treats for those who prefer to express their Starlight spirit through eating until they lose consciousness. The Starlight Cake is composed of layer after layer after layer... After layer of sweet, decadent heaven. Both desserts are made by our talented chef, Xembre Adrias! The Hot Chocolate is a sweet beverage commonly drunk in the Holy See, but rarely seen in Foundation due to inability of most Ishgard's poorer residents to procure the relatively rare and expensive ingredients.

Tea

All teas can be ordered as a single cup or pot (served either hot or cold) or in a box of sachets.

EARTHYSencha - most common green tea in Hingashi made with unshaded tea leavesBancha - green tea made with the same unshaded tea leaves as Sencha but mature with a more robust flavorSobacha - buckwheat tea with a nutty fragrance and flavor
Oolong - semi-oxidized Doman tea, known to stimulate fat burning


SWEET & SAVORYGyokuro - one of the most expensive Hingan teas with a deep rich green color and a unique sweet, umami flavorTencha - shaded tea leaves without stems or stalks, very light but difficult to brewMatcha - powdered tea made from Tencha, can be purchased in different grades (ceremonial grade, industrial grade, ordinary/culinary grade)Genmaicha - toasted rice mixed with a choice of either Sencha or Bancha, contains less caffeine compared to any other green tea.Konacha - a mix of Kabusecha and Gyokuro grounded to fine dust, most commonly served in sushi restaurantsKuromamecha - black soybean tea with a mildly sweet and savory roasted aromaHongcha - also known as Doman black tea, known to improve heart and gut health

SWEETHojicha - roasted green tea with less caffeine, great served as ice tea, can also be roasted in different levelsTamaryokucha - a type of Sencha, but the leaves are curled into a ball like many Doman teas, can be served steamed for a sweeter taste or pan-fried for a nuttier tasteKukicha - made from twigs or stems of tea plant, has less astringent in tasteShincha - a mix of Sencha, Kabusecha, Gyokuro, and Tamaryokucha harvested in the first springBenifukicha - made from benifuki tea cultivar, basically a Sencha but with special health benefits that help reduce symptoms of seasonal allergiesShizicha - also know as Doman Tea, carries a sweet taste of persimmons


SAVORYKabusecha - semi-shaded green tea with a similar taste to Sencha but with a bit more sweetnessMugicha - roasted barley tea, most commonly drank in summer due to its caffeine-free refreshing flavor, also best served coldKonbucha - sea kelp tea, has a salty taste compared to other teasSuutei Tsai - also known as Steppe Tea, tannin-rich tea sourced from the Azim Steppe

Food & Dessert

Cha Siu Bao - 2 steamed buns filled with barbecue-flavored Doman char siu porkYacai Bao - 2 steamed buns filled with Doman pickle, spices, and vegetablesShao Bao - 2 steamed buns filled with chickenRou Bao - 2 steamed buns filled with minced beefEgg Tarts - little custard tart with a hard and sweet crustTanghulu - Doman toffee apple, consisting of a skewer with apples dipped in liquid sugar and driedDoman Dragon's Beard - sticky candy made of spun sugarTangyuan - made of glutinous rice shaped into a ball, served in a hot, sweet broth


Salmon Onigiri - 3 salmon-filled rice balls wrapped in noriTuna Onigiri - 3 tuna-filled rice balls wrapped in noriTakoyaki - ball-shaped Hingan snack made of a wheat flour-based batter, filled with diced octopus, tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onion, and dried bonito flakes sprinkled on topChawanmushi - classic Hingan steamed egg custard served in a cupHanami Dango - three dumplings on 2 skewers with pink (cherry), green (matcha), white (regular mochi) colorsMitarashi Dango - three dumplings on 2 skewers made from variety of rice flours, covered with syrup made from soy sauce, sugar, and starchOsenbei - assorted traditional Hingan rice crackersWagashi - assorted traditional Hingan sweetsNama-choco - ganache-textured Hingan chocolate

Nomad Meat Pie - ground dzo chuck and various Steppe vegetables wrapped in buttery dough and deep-fried oilShorlog - heavily spiced dzo meat charred to perfection over an open flame. Common fare amongst the nomadic Steppe tribesStuffed Cabbage Rolls - ground meat rolled in cabbage and boiled in brothSpinach Saute - a simple dish consisting of Cieldalaes spinach sauteed in rich salted butterAaruul - Steppe curd cheese, made by mixing cheese curds with sugar and wild berries and cutting the curds into different shapes and patternsSteppe Rice Pudding - rice pudding made with Steppe milk, sugar, and dry fruitsUl Boov - soft cake that looks like a slipper made from sheep fat, flour, salt, sugar, and butterBoortsog - fried dough "cookies" served with Azim strawberry jam

Menu

Infirmary

Customers who are interested in receiving any of the vaccinations and/or shots listed below can request assistance at the apothecary and they will be directed to the infirmary with one of the apothecary staff. Depending on the busyness, customers may be asked to wait in the lobby to be called and this wait time may vary. Please try to keep the RP in the infirmary as brief as possible!

Available Services

Mandriol - weekly testosterone shotEstradame - weekly estrogen shotCoqueluche - annual flu shotMore to be added

The Tsurugi Clan

The Tsurugi Clan is one of the biggest clans in Hingashi and they are well-known for their tradings in herbs, drugs, and the likes. The clan consists of Toshihiro Tsurugi, the kumicho, who is a native Hingan, and his wife (the onee-san), Chiyo Tsurugi, a Doman shinobi, along with their couple thousands of clansmen.Like many of the other clans in Hingashi that are in higher ranks, the Tsurugi Clan also has their own turf in Kugane as well. All of the businesses on this turf are owned by them and under their protection, most of them being apothecaries.

The clan also raises a family of chickens, in which the eldest rooster serves as their "good luck" charm and the manager of the clan. This came to be when a rooster helped the clan's previous kumicho win the current turf they own. In return, the kumicho decided to house the rooster, help raise its family, and eventually give it an official position in the clan as the manager. By continuing to pass on this role to the next generation's eldest rooster and on, these chickens have miraculously helped the Tsurugi clan become one of the most powerful clans in Kugane. The clan's current manager is Nugget, who is the eldest rooster in the third generation.

Staff

Eden Tsurugi - Proprietor

"Nothing brings me greater joy than being able to help those in need."After becoming certified in the medical field, Eden had initially opened a small greenhouse and an infirmary in the Lavender Beds. However, due to personal reasons, he later sold the business and thought about retiring early with his husband, Kai Tsurugi. But with his desire to help others still strong, he decided to open Higanbana Apothecary.

Kai Tsurugi - Staff

"Huh? Oh, Eden sells some of the best tea and remedies. Go visit him."Although Kai is the son of the Tsurugi Clan's patriarch, he does not hold any managerial responsibilities at the apothecary. He does, however, occasionally visit the shop to help Eden out.

Odgan Tumet - Manager/Pharmacist

"If you need to treat your injuries, I can help! If you need injuries to treat, I can help with that, too!"Despite causing a fight right in front of the shop that left bloodstains in front of the shop's door, Odgan was hired to work at Higanbana Apothecary as a pharmacist due to his extensive knowledge in herbs and alchemy. He also seemed to be very understanding when Eden gave a very lengthy lecture that lasted about... Two minutes about there being absolutely no violence at the shop!Apparently, his partner had been nagging at him to go get a job. So, naturally Eden wanted to help in any way he can!

Xembre Adrias - Manager/Chef

"The takoyaki's to die for."Xembre is yet another close friend of Eden's who used to work at the Bismarck as a cook. However, due to staff shortages, the head chef at the restaurant had reassigned her to work as a server instead. Not being able enjoy her true passion, Xembre became easily stressed with her work and therefore reached out to Eden to be hired to work at the tea shop as a chef instead.While she may be a chef primarily, you may still see her serving tables occasionally on busy days! However, Eden has promised her he will do his best to make sure it does not happen regularly!

Fumichiyo Hatsuko - Server

"A true taste of the Far East- W-Wait! Guigou, no!"Escaping his dark past in Kugane, Fumichiyo was at a loss in Eorzea. Hopping job to job, he simply couldn't find a place that felt comfortable; he'd been looking for something more familiar, something he had a passion for- and that was tea.Seeing a flyer by chance, he was brought to the Higanbana Apothecary. With a deep love of traditional tea and his passion of helping others, the apothecary seemed to be a perfect fit. Fumichiyo hopes to deepen his love of tea, as well as pursue further knowledge in herbal medicine.

Tielo Vast - Server

"Sometimes you just need to treat life like you're making pickles."Tielo is a long standing officer of the Maelstrom and Veteran adventurer. Mastering Arcanima as a Royal Marine and learning the gunblade during the liberation of Bozja. A long time customer of Higanbana turned employee who loves to help out at the tea shop.

Jaeger Sprigatito - Server

"I..- Dunno what that is! But if we make it, 's probably good?"After the Battle of Carteneau turned out to be second worst day of his life, Jaeger had been stumbling his way through petty mercenary work. A long series of bad luck, bad jobs, and bad deals finally caught up to him- And his coin purse.He found himself draining the last of his gil at Higanbana during The Rising when he watched the staff struggle with multiple rushes. Empathetic (and impoverished) to a fault, Jaeger offered a helping hand, and was soon after being hired on- despite his painful ignorance of Hingan culture.


Osamu Kashiwagi - Guard

"You can find more items inside. Don't even think about stealing unless you're willing to pay with your finger."Osamu is one of the few members in the Tsurugi Clan that works close with the Patriarch. He has been part of the clan ever since the first born, so he knows the Patriach's family on a more personal level as well. And because Eden is also considered a family member, the Patriarch has ordered Osamu to be stationed at Higanbana Apothecary as a guard to ensure Eden and the business's safety.

Shinji Tanaka - Pharmacist

"I am forever in oyaji's debt. This is the least I can do to repay."Shinji is a loyal member of the Tsurugi Clan and because he was one of the few clansmen that had studied medicine, he was assigned by the kumicho to help out Eden at his new business as a pharmacist. While he may look menacing and unfriendly, he remains very professional with his job.

Reina Mihara - Barista

"Don't worry. This one's on the house. In return, I hope you'll be our regular from now on."Reina worked as a maid for the Tsurugi Clan while also being trained as a shinobi under the kumicho's onee-san and due to her excellent knowledge in chadou (Japanese tea ceremony), she was also assigned by the kumicho to assist in Eden's business as well. With a very elegant personality, she is very kind and caring to everyone she meets. When unsure what to order, she will know exactly what to recommend!

Role-play

Higanbana Apothecary is an open role-play venue and is ran by NPCs the majority of the time, so please feel free to visit with others even when the owner is not present. The owner will be present at the venue on Sundays, 5-7 PM Pacific / 7-9 PM Central / 8-10 PM Eastern.Any sort of payment is all in character. Therefore, you do not need to send/trade any gil to the owner.