toddies

Toddies are beverages that share the name toddy and can refer to two distinct types: a warm, mixed alcoholic drink and a beverage made from the fermented sap of tropical palm trees. The plural “toddies” is used for these drinks collectively and across regional variations.

The hot toddy is the best-known form in the English-speaking world. It typically combines a base spirit, commonly whiskey, brandy, or rum, with hot water or tea, a sweetener such as honey or sugar, and lemon juice. Optional spices such as cinnamon, cloves, or ginger are often added, and the drink is usually served in a mug with a slice of lemon or a cinnamon stick for garnish.

Palm toddy refers to beverages produced from the sap of palm trees. In many regions, the sap is collected fresh and consumed as a mildly alcoholic drink, or it can ferment to higher alcohol content. It may be consumed as a cloudy, slightly sweet beverage known as palm wine, or processed further by fermentation and, in some cases, distillation. The exact name and method vary by culture and country.

Historically, the term toddy has broader usage, describing warm, sweetened alcoholic drinks in British and American English since the 18th century. Toddies have appeared in folklore as home remedies for colds, though modern references focus on flavor and social enjoyment rather than medical claims.