A sweet or fermented drink made from the sap of palm trees, especially popular in South and Southeast Asia. When fresh it's sweet, but ferments quickly into an alcoholic beverage.
From Hindi ताड़ी (tāṛī) derived from Sanskrit ताड (tāḍa) meaning 'palm tree'. The word entered English in the 17th century through British colonial administrators and traders in India. The term spread through British maritime networks across palm-growing regions.
Toddy was so popular among British colonials that 'toddy shops' became a standard feature of colonial towns! The drink naturally ferments within hours due to wild yeasts, making it impossible to keep non-alcoholic in tropical climates.
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