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Karkade for Bast

Karkade is hibiscus tea, and in Egypt it's everywhere, cold in summer and hot in winter. I cold-steep mine: a big handful of dried hibiscus in a jug of water in the fridge overnight, then a spoonful of honey stirred in the next morning. It comes out the deepest garnet, which feels right for a lioness. The first small glass goes on the shrine for Bast, who receives it with what I imagine is polite feline indifference. I drink the rest over the week. My partner calls it "goddess juice" and steals it constantly. (Footnote, because I can't help myself: I don't claim this as reconstruction. It's a modern Egyptian drink and a modern devotion, and I think she's fine with that.)