Difference between revisions of "Moon tea"

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'''Moon tea''' or '''tansy tea''' is a [[medicine|medicinal]] herbal tea used in the [[Seven Kingdoms]], as well as [[beyond the Wall]], to prevent or abort pregnancies.
 
'''Moon tea''' or '''tansy tea''' is a [[medicine|medicinal]] herbal tea used in the [[Seven Kingdoms]], as well as [[beyond the Wall]], to prevent or abort pregnancies.
  
Moon tea is made generally by [[maesters]] and [[woods witch]]es out of [[Tansy (plant)|tansy]], mint, wormwood, a spoon of honey, and a drop of [[pennyroyal]].{{Ref|aSoS|80}}{{Ref|aSoS|15}}
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Moon tea is made generally by [[maesters]] and [[woods witch]]es out of [[Tansy (plant)|tansy]], mint, wormwood, a spoon of honey, and a drop of [[pennyroyal]].{{Ref|aSoS|80}}{{Ref|aSoS|15}} Moon tea is commonly used without issues, but it can also have dangerous side effects.{{Ref|AWOIAF|Lysa Tully}}{{Ref|AWOIAF|Petyr Baelish}}
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Devout members of the [[Faith of the Seven]] consider the use of moon tea to be murder.{{ref|AFFC|43}}
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
Grand Maester [[Orwyle]], disguised as "Old Wyl", mixed moon tea and potions of [[tansy (plant)|tansy]] and [[pennyroyal]] for the prostitutes from [[Mother's (brothel)|Mother's]], a brothel in [[King's Landing]], to abort unwanted children.{{ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}
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In {{date|131}}, Grand Maester [[Orwyle]], disguised as "Old Wyl", mixed moon tea and potions of [[tansy (plant)|tansy]] and [[pennyroyal]] for the prostitutes from [[Mother's (brothel)|Mother's]], a brothel in [[King's Landing]], to abort unwanted children.{{ref|FAB|Under the Regents - The Hooded Hand}}
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In {{date|282}}, [[Lysa Tully]] became pregnant by [[Petyr Baelish]]. Lysa revealed her pregnancy to her father, Lord [[Hoster Tully]], hoping that he would let her wed Petyr. Hoster, who had always felt Petyr was too lowborn,{{Ref|ASOS|68}} instead forced Lysa to abort the child with moon tea provided by Maester [[Kym]].{{Ref|ASOS|80}} Lysa nearly died from the effects of the tea, and never forgave her father for it.{{Ref|AWOIAF|Lysa Tully}}{{Ref|AWOIAF|Petyr Baelish}}
  
 
A [[woods witch]] showed [[Asha Greyjoy]] how to brew moon tea after she lost her virginity to a [[Lys]]ene sailor.{{ref|AFFC|11}}
 
A [[woods witch]] showed [[Asha Greyjoy]] how to brew moon tea after she lost her virginity to a [[Lys]]ene sailor.{{ref|AFFC|11}}
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==Recent Events==
 
==Recent Events==
 
===''A Storm of Swords''===
 
===''A Storm of Swords''===
Lady [[Ravella Smallwood]] indicates that milkmaids across the [[riverlands]] have been drinking tansy tea thanks to [[Tom of Sevenstreams]].{{ref|aSoS|22}}
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As Lord [[Hoster Tully]] lies dying, he repeats the words "tansy", "blood", and asks for forgiveness. His daughter [[Catelyn Stark]] initially thinks her father is referring to a woman by the name of Tansy, but then deduces that he had forced her sister [[Lysa Arryn|Lysa]] to abort a pregnancy.{{ref|ASOS|2}}
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Lady [[Ravella Smallwood]] indicates that milkmaids across the [[riverlands]] have been drinking tansy tea to avoid becoming pregnant by [[Tom of Sevenstreams]].{{ref|aSoS|22}}
  
Lady [[Lysa Arryn]] reveals to her new husband, Lord [[Petyr Baelish]], that her late father [[Hoster Tully]], [[Lord Paramount of the Trident]], had her unknowingly consume moon tea to abort Petyr's child when they were younger.{{ref|ASOS|80}}
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[[Sansa Stark]] overhears Lady [[Lysa Arryn]] pleading her love to her new husband, Lord [[Petyr Baelish]], telling him that she gave him her [[maidenhead]] and would have given him a son as well, but the pregnancy had been ended by moon tea. Lysa tells Petyr that it wasn't her choice, she never knew what substance her father had given her to drink, and Petyr reassures her that both Hoster and his maester are dead.{{ref|ASOS|80}}
  
 
===''A Feast for Crows''===
 
===''A Feast for Crows''===
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Queen Regent [[Cersei Lannister]] believes that Queen [[Margaery Tyrell]]'s requesting of moon tea from Grand Maester [[Pycelle]] is evidence that Margaery has a secret lover.{{ref|AFFC|39}}
 
Queen Regent [[Cersei Lannister]] believes that Queen [[Margaery Tyrell]]'s requesting of moon tea from Grand Maester [[Pycelle]] is evidence that Margaery has a secret lover.{{ref|AFFC|39}}
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When Margaery is arrested by the [[Faith of the Seven]], the [[High Sparrow]] lists multiple crimes/sins she has committed, including murdering "the fruit of her fornications" by using moon tea.{{ref|AFFC|43}}
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===''A Dance with Dragons''===
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Grand Maester Pycelle feels that Lord [[Mace Tyrell]] dislikes him because of the moon tea he provided to Margaery, and says he would not have said anything about it if Queen Cersei had not commanded him.{{ref|ADWD|73}}
  
 
==Quotes==
 
==Quotes==
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{{Quote|Women only drank moon tea for one reason; maidens had no need for it at all.{{ref|AFFC|39}}|thoughts of [[Cersei Lannister]]}}
 
{{Quote|Women only drank moon tea for one reason; maidens had no need for it at all.{{ref|AFFC|39}}|thoughts of [[Cersei Lannister]]}}
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{{Quote|[[Margaery Tyrell|She]] has drunk of moon tea, to murder the fruit of her fornications in her womb.{{ref|AFFC|43}}|The [[High Sparrow]] to [[Cersei Lannister]], about [[Margaery Tyrell]]}}
  
 
==Behind the Scenes==
 
==Behind the Scenes==
Moon tea is based on natural abortifactants. According to [[George R. R. Martin]], he added some fantasy touches, as the actual recipe can be very dangerous, and should not be tried in real life.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/A_Myriad_of_Questions/ A Myriad of Questions (March 27, 2002)]</ref>
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Moon tea is based on natural herbal abortifacients. According to [[George R. R. Martin]], he added some fantasy touches, as the actual recipe can be very dangerous, and should not be tried in real life.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/A_Myriad_of_Questions/ A Myriad of Questions (March 27, 2002)]</ref>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
{{References|2}}
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{{References}}
  
 
{{Drinks}}
 
{{Drinks}}

Revision as of 02:50, 17 September 2022

Hoster Tully gives his daughter Lysa moon tea.
Art by Juliana Pinho

Moon tea or tansy tea is a medicinal herbal tea used in the Seven Kingdoms, as well as beyond the Wall, to prevent or abort pregnancies.

Moon tea is made generally by maesters and woods witches out of tansy, mint, wormwood, a spoon of honey, and a drop of pennyroyal.[1][2] Moon tea is commonly used without issues, but it can also have dangerous side effects.[3][4]

Devout members of the Faith of the Seven consider the use of moon tea to be murder.[5]

History

In 131 AC, Grand Maester Orwyle, disguised as "Old Wyl", mixed moon tea and potions of tansy and pennyroyal for the prostitutes from Mother's, a brothel in King's Landing, to abort unwanted children.[6]

In 282 AC, Lysa Tully became pregnant by Petyr Baelish. Lysa revealed her pregnancy to her father, Lord Hoster Tully, hoping that he would let her wed Petyr. Hoster, who had always felt Petyr was too lowborn,[7] instead forced Lysa to abort the child with moon tea provided by Maester Kym.[1] Lysa nearly died from the effects of the tea, and never forgave her father for it.[3][4]

A woods witch showed Asha Greyjoy how to brew moon tea after she lost her virginity to a Lysene sailor.[8]

Recent Events

A Storm of Swords

As Lord Hoster Tully lies dying, he repeats the words "tansy", "blood", and asks for forgiveness. His daughter Catelyn Stark initially thinks her father is referring to a woman by the name of Tansy, but then deduces that he had forced her sister Lysa to abort a pregnancy.[9]

Lady Ravella Smallwood indicates that milkmaids across the riverlands have been drinking tansy tea to avoid becoming pregnant by Tom of Sevenstreams.[10]

Sansa Stark overhears Lady Lysa Arryn pleading her love to her new husband, Lord Petyr Baelish, telling him that she gave him her maidenhead and would have given him a son as well, but the pregnancy had been ended by moon tea. Lysa tells Petyr that it wasn't her choice, she never knew what substance her father had given her to drink, and Petyr reassures her that both Hoster and his maester are dead.[1]

A Feast for Crows

Princess Arianne Martell consumes moon tea during her romance with Ser Arys Oakheart.[11]

Queen Regent Cersei Lannister believes that Queen Margaery Tyrell's requesting of moon tea from Grand Maester Pycelle is evidence that Margaery has a secret lover.[12]

When Margaery is arrested by the Faith of the Seven, the High Sparrow lists multiple crimes/sins she has committed, including murdering "the fruit of her fornications" by using moon tea.[5]

A Dance with Dragons

Grand Maester Pycelle feels that Lord Mace Tyrell dislikes him because of the moon tea he provided to Margaery, and says he would not have said anything about it if Queen Cersei had not commanded him.[13]

Quotes

If Ygritte does not want a child, she will go to some woods witch and drink a cup o' moon tea. You do not come into it, once the seed is planted.[2]

I would have given you a son too, but they murdered him with moon tea, with tansy and mint and wormwood, a spoon of honey and a drop of pennyroyal. It wasn't me, I never knew, I only drank what Father gave me...[1]

Women only drank moon tea for one reason; maidens had no need for it at all.[12]

—thoughts of Cersei Lannister

She has drunk of moon tea, to murder the fruit of her fornications in her womb.[5]

Behind the Scenes

Moon tea is based on natural herbal abortifacients. According to George R. R. Martin, he added some fantasy touches, as the actual recipe can be very dangerous, and should not be tried in real life.[14]

References