Toddy Tapping in Kerala

Featured in this video is a toddy tapper busy at work in the backwater village of Kumarakom in Kottayam district of Kerala. Toddy, locally known as kallu is a natural alcoholic beverage in Kerala, extracted from palm or coconut trees.

The toddy is tapped by a toddy tapper, who is an expert in the work. The shoot of the palm is sliced near its tip and an earthen pot is hung at the cut end. It is normally an evening business and by the next morning, the pot will have white frothy toddy in it.

The fresh toddy collected in the morning is a mild refreshing drink. By evening it will have fermented and gives a kick to its imbibers.