Spectrum Food and Drink Crafting Guide

guide

The Titration Barrel and Fermentation

The Titration Barrel is the central tool for fermenting both food and beverages in Spectrum. Built from Colored Wood, the barrel slowly alters whatever is placed inside over time, with the wood’s properties influencing the final result. Outcomes can be pleasantly surprising or underwhelming, but they are always distinct.

The barrel accepts up to one full stack of solid items plus a single bucket of liquid. Fermentation does not happen instantly; it progresses gradually, and you may notice changes after stepping away and returning. Patience is key.

Making Kimchi

Kimchi is a fermented food made from three different vegetables. It serves well as a side dish rather than a main course. While it takes time to prepare, the process is more efficient than combining the ingredients without fermentation. Even after light fermentation, kimchi retains some properties of Milk—eating it clears any active status effects from your character. It also works as a quick snack, since taking a bite is fast and provides a reasonable level of satiety. The flavor is mildly sweet with fruity undertones.

The Art of Brewing Alcoholic Drinks

The Titration Barrel can also produce alcoholic beverages. Brewing is not a rigid science; several variables affect the outcome, and you can follow a recipe exactly or experiment freely.

Time: Leaving drinks in the barrel longer than the minimum required time often intensifies existing effects or adds new ones.
Temperature: Warmer conditions cause more of the liquid to evaporate over time, reducing the final volume. This loss is sometimes called the angel’s share.
Humidity: In damp air, water evaporates faster than alcohol, which makes the finished drink stronger.
Water Share: Using a higher ratio of ingredients to water speeds up fermentation. However, this also shortens the duration of any status effects the drink grants.

Recipes and effects that specifically reference alcohol are optional content. You can choose to unlock them if you wish to engage with that system, but skipping them does not lock you out of anything essential.

Cookbook Recipes from Imperial and Regional Chefs

Several in-game cookbooks provide detailed recipes for food and beverages, each reflecting a different culinary tradition.

Imperial Cookbook

Written by Chef Aeverstrone of the Scarlet Moon Court, this book focuses on refined, difficult dishes. One signature recipe involves lizard meat braised in wine and flower petals. This dish is notoriously tricky to prepare correctly—even experienced cooks may fail many times before succeeding. It requires a long process and many delicate ingredients, but the final flavor is exceptional. The book also mentions glass peaches, which are tied to the imperial family’s history and grow on nephrite trees.

Imbrifer Cookbook

Chef Lorraine of Imbrifer offers a more rigorous approach to cooking. Her first lesson is the Crawfish Cocktail, a dish that appears simple but demands real skill. The key challenge is flambéing peaches and spices into a sweet, syrupy, spicy sauce without accidentally cooking the crawfish. Many students struggle with this step. Another recipe, Bagnun, is a heavily spiced soup that is balanced by a dollop of fresh cream. The visual contrast between the scarlet, peppery broth and the pale cream is part of its appeal.

Melochites Cookbook Vol. 1

Aunt Melaya’s first volume covers hearty, traditional meals. Banyash is a filling crawfish dish with sweet berries, often eaten by miners for energy. It has a savory flavor with subtle woodland notes. Another recipe features young hare, which is considered a delicacy in many regions. The book strongly recommends using an artisanal azurte stout when cooking the hare—this specific type of beer is rare but dramatically improves the dish. A standard malt beer works in a pinch, but any high-quality craft brew is preferable.

Melochites Cookbook Vol. 2

The second volume from Aunt Melaya shifts focus to desserts and drinks from her home region. As with the first book, the recipes are approachable and meant to be enjoyed, with an emphasis on traditional flavors and simple enjoyment.

Covers the mod’s in-game guide topics: Titration Barrel The Art of Brewing Imperial Cookbook Imbrifer Cookbook Melochites Cookbook Vol. 1 Melochites Cookbook Vol. 2