Treacle Mining

Treacle mining is the practice of mining crystallised treacle underground. Scientists hypothesise that crystalised treacle found underground may be the result of the fossilisation of ancient sugar cane reserves, much like how coal is fossilised from the remains of ancient trees, while religion and local superstition solve the question of treacle's origin with the answer of divine power hiding treacle underground, as a gift and reward of sorts to hard-working miners. Regardless of whether this is absolutely true, treacle is commonly found near coal deposits. The vast majority of treacle mines, and therefore treacle reserves, are found in the northern half of Mittelrijk and in the south of Conoilith. As sugar had to be imported through trade across the Eastern Sea in olden times, with merchant ships vulnerable to marauding pirates seizing the booty, treacle mining had always been a part of Mittelrijk's economy, as the crystallised treacle, when refined and melted into a syrup, served as a sweetener for many dishes in countries of the Middle-Lands and in southern Conoilith.

PROCESS
From the surface, there is almost no sign of underground treacle deposits being present. However, in the regions where it is common, such as northern Mittelrijk, it can be readily found near coal deposits; often coal miners who have already dug a mine will find clumps of crystallised treacle. If these are found, then a prospector will inspect the area, and decide on the opening of a treacle mine connected to the pre-existing coal mine. From then on, mining procedures are similar to that of normal coal mining.

As treacle is mined in a crystallised, rock-like form, but it is consumed as a syrup, the treacle must be refined and melted before it can be used safely. After coming up from the mines, the treacle is sent to a specially constructed refinery. There, the treacle will first be crushed into small pieces - traditionally in bowls with a mortar and pestle or using hammers and other tools, and in more modern times with heavy machinery - and then washed intensely to remove impurities. It is then melted. The melted treacle is then rapidly cooled, and shortly after melted again, this time being processed into its syrup form. The treacle syrup is then ready for consumption.

THE SWEETENER GUILD WAR
The Sweetener Guild War was an interesting and extraordinary historical event relating to treacle mining in northern Mittelrijk, and its rival producer of sweeteners, the honey merchants of Conoilith. Taking place in the early 2500s, at the height of pirate activity in the Eastern Sea despite the best efforts of the Imperial Conoilithian Navy, the lack of sugar imports from the east resulted in a conflict for dominance of the sweetener market between treacle, the preferred sweetener in the Middle-Lands, and honey, its counterpart in Conoilith. During the war, rival guilds at first tried to outdo each other in the market, before eventually resorting to sabotage, gang violence, and even paying pirates to attack ships carrying goods from 'enemy' companies.