Our Story, Our Quest.

We are a couple of really environment conscious guys and would like nothing better than to save all endangered species and arts. And while thus on a mission to save the world, we came across the painful fact that the Palm tree is almost on the verge of extinction from our native place.

Now, this palm tree is used for tapping Toddy and more importantly palm leaves are the most favored food of Elephants. And God knows, we love Elephants. When we were researching the sudden dwindling of the elephant population( Only 2,422 left) last year, the prime reason we found was that the elephants were tired of the man made elephant food and were dying unhappy and hungry. Our hearts went out to them. We found that they were missing palm leaves very much, and the Mahouts that we spoke to lamented the unavailability of the leaves as there were not many palm trees left. We took it upon ourselves to try and do something about this and in our quest did many awareness programs with the native people but the difficulty we faced was that none of the people could empathize or relate to the plight of the elephants. We realized that we had to take a different approach to the problem. Luckily, we also found that palm wine( Toddy) is tapped from the same tree. We put two and three together and came up with five.

We now gave THIS reason to save the Palm tree and Voila! we started getting positive responses, mainly from the 'disgusted with life' men folk. Rest of the unemployed people standing in queue for recruitment into the Naxal and various Terrorist organizations fell into line when we told them about the employment opportunities as Toddy Tappers( and that the ladies adore them)that it would generate when the Palms grow up.( Till then they have been attached to a local school which provides free meals) So, in the bargain we look forward to saving the palm wine( Kallu) also from extinction, which last heard was being made by adding synthetic flavoring and colors to sewage water.( now we know where the funny taste came from)So let it be known that we are on a noble quest and the promotion of the Toddy shops is all connected to the saving of the Palm tree and the elephant and finally the Environment. We are also generating employment by taking grave risks( The naxals and other Terrorist organizations are after our blood. But we are unfazed.).

We therefore exhort all like minded and unlike minded people to contribute to the saving of the environment with us( preferably in cash)…. For those who fear an headache and a hangover we are in talks with a local Toddy wholesale supplier to bring out " Vicks action 500" or " Dispirin" version of Toddy apart from the popular " Crocin" version in vogue now.Well, that’s the story of how we ended up at this blog or at least the story we would like everyone to believe.

Post Script : We do not take any responsibility for the above or any other bullshit that we write turning out to be true.

Post Post Script : Mind it.

Palm Wine !

Palm wine also called Palm Toddy or simply Toddy is an alcoholic beverage created from the sap of various species of palm tree such as the Palmyra, and coconut palms. This drink is common in various parts of Asia and Africa, and goes by various names, such as "emu" and "oguro" in Nigeria, nsafufuo in Ghana, kallu in South India, tuak in North Sumatra, Indonesia, goribon (Rungus) in Sabah, Borneo, and tuba in the Philippines, Borneo and Mexico. Toddy is also consumed in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Production of palm wine has contributed to the endangered status of some palm species such as the Chilean wine palm, Jubaea chilensis.

The sap is extracted and collected by a tapper. Typically the sap is collected from the cut flower of the palm tree. A container is fastened to the flower stump to collect the sap. The white liquid that initially collects tends to be very sweet and non-alcoholic before it is fermented. An alternate method is the felling of the entire tree. Where this is practiced, a fire is sometimes lit at the cut end to facilitate the collection of sap. Palm wine tapping is mentioned in the novel Things Fall Apart, by the Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe and is central to the plot of the groundbreaking novel The Palm Wine Drinkard by Nigerian author Amos Tutuola.

In parts of India, the unfermented sap is called "Neera" ("Padaneer" in Tamil Nadu) and is refrigerated, stored and distributed by semi-government agencies. A little lime is added to the sap to prevent it from fermenting. Neera is said to contain many nutrients including potash. Palm toddy also forms the base for a drink popular in Goa, known as Goan Fenny. Palm sap begins fermenting immediately after collection, due to natural yeasts in the air (often spurred by residual yeast left in the collecting container). Within two hours, fermentation yields an aromatic wine of up to 4% alcohol content, mildly intoxicating and sweet. The wine may be allowed to ferment longer, up to a day, to yield a stronger, more sour and acidic taste, which some people prefer. Longer fermentation produces vinegar instead of stronger wine. Tamil Sangam literature contains many references to Toddy (Kallu) and Tirukkuṛaḷ contains a chapter on "Abhorrence of Toddy".