The History Behind the Hot Toddy and Why it's so Popular
A hot toddy on a cold day is the perfect remedy to warm you right up. Have you ever wondered where this ever popular beverage originated? I am always so very curious so I did some digging.
The hot toddy is believed to have gotten it’s name from the Indian tadi. What’s a tadi you ask? Tadi is a fermented drink made out of the sap of a toddy palm.
Photo Credits: Vishnu Rajendran
Pictured is a man cutting the flower stalk of the palm and placing buckets over the fresh cutting and collecting the sap. This sap from the stalk is prized as a tonic, diuretic, stimulant, laxative and anti phlegmatic and amebicide. Sugar made from this sap is said to counteract poisoning, and it is prescribed in liver disorders. It has also been used as a remedy for coughs and various pulmonary complaints.
This video below is pretty awesome! The way he climbs the Tadi Palm is impressive. Worth the watch to show the process.
Now how did this Indian Traditional drink get to the point where it is today?
In the 1610s, the Hindi word “taddy” meant “beverage made from fermented palm sap.” By 1786, taddy was defined as a beverage made of alcoholic liquor with hot water, sugar, and spices.
The United Kingdom’s trade routes with India made exotic spices easier to obtain, and pubs started throwing more than hot water and whisky into their drinks. It is said that the British added spices to liquor to recreate the flavors of the tadi.
In Ireland, Doctors began to prescribe this warming spiced whiskey drink to those who fell ill. "By the mid-19th century, the hot toddy had secured its place as the cure for the common cold. In an article called “How to Take Cold” in the Burlington Free Press in 1837, the hot toddy is heralded as a cure-all."
Rum and brandy were the popular spirits of America at the time and the toddy drink made its way to the American colonies. It’s survived the test of time for a reason: The hot toddy is the undeniable champion of hot drinks.
What sets Naturacentric's version apart from others is our herbs and spices. I treat all my products as a form of healing. I incorporated many of the traditional fundamental spices like cloves and cinnamon but also added my herbal twist incorporating ashwagandha root and dandelion root. This drink was recommended as a cold a flu remedy back in the day so I wanted to revisit that piece of history when creating my formula. The warm spices of cinnamon, cloves, ginger and black pepper are a great foundation for strengthening the immune system.
Dandelion root is such a personal favorite because it is dismissed as a weed, sprayed and eradicated at all costs, but despite all odds against it, it will grow and thrive anywhere. I chose this addition because of the detoxifying properties to help flush the body as well as it's antimicrobial and antiviral properties, which can support your body's ability to fight infection.
Ashwagandha is a popular herb used in Ayurveda medicine. It helps the body adapt to stress while also strengthening and nourishing. This adaptogenic herb is great for fighting infections, healing fever and boosting immunity.
This is a very popular product more so in the colder months. Many other hot toddy's on the market are sprayed with artificial/natural flavors and here at Naturacentric we NEVER taint our herbs with that crap!
Hope you learned something new today and enjoyed my very first blog post. I will be writing more in the future.
Talk soon : )
Cheers,
Nat
