What is Toddy?
Toddy (රා) is well know beverage in Sri Lanka.Most Sri Lankans, especially those that live on the coastal belt, are well acquainted with this traditional drink whose roots can be traced to pre-colonial Ceylonese kingdoms.There is treacle toddy (කිතුල් රා), palm toddy (තල් රා) and a variety of other brews, but the undisputed king of toddy is the special blend made of coconut (පොල් රා), consumed by locals and foreigners alike in many parts of the country.
Back in the past, when there wasn't any wine or beer to one’s thirst after a long hard day, Lankan farmers and ordinary grown-ups would rely on a pot of good old toddy to drown their hardships in. Although toddy consumption isn't a famous trend today, in the old days, toddy production was up-trending and deeply entrenched in local culture.
Coconut Trees And Tightropes
Tapping toddy involves crossing through a network of short distanced coconut trees called an athura, connected by tightrope, which the toddy tapper uses to walk from one treetop to the next.This is very Dangerous work, to say the least. This Method was created to save more time and energy otherwise it will take more time and energy than it should while climbing and descending each and every individual tree.
You can’t enter the athura from any tree in the network. There is one specific tree assigned for this purpose. It’s called the hera (හැර) tree.
Walking the tightrope, albeit with the help of a parallel rope to hold on to, is nerve-wracking work, as you can imagine. Needless to say, not everyone can do this. Even experienced toddy tappers take the utmost care when traversing the athura.
The toddy tapper’s first task is to dry the coconut flower. This prevents the flower from cracking during the process of tapping. Usually this will be done with the aid of young coconut leaves but today dried coconut husk rope is used.
Coconut Trees And Tightropes
Tapping toddy involves crossing through a network of short distanced coconut trees called an athura, connected by tightrope, which the toddy tapper uses to walk from one treetop to the next.This is very Dangerous work, to say the least. This Method was created to save more time and energy otherwise it will take more time and energy than it should while climbing and descending each and every individual tree. You can’t enter the athura from any tree in the network. There is one specific tree assigned for this purpose. It’s called the hera (හැර) tree.
Walking the tightrope, albeit with the help of a parallel rope to hold on to, is nerve-wracking work, as you can imagine. Needless to say, not everyone can do this. Even experienced toddy tappers take the utmost care when traversing the athura.
The toddy tapper’s first task is to dry the coconut flower. This prevents the flower from cracking during the process of tapping. Usually this will be done with the aid of young coconut leaves but today dried coconut husk rope is used.
Tools That Used in Toddy Tapping
The Tool Box
The tool box used for tapping, or the ‘tapping box’, contains special knives and cleavers that are used during different stages of the process.
The Waadiya (Tavern)
A special tavern known as the waadiya (වාඩිය) on the premises of the athura is where the collected toddy is stored until it’s transported to the distillery or vinegar manufacturing plant or any other byproduct manufacturer. The waadiya is also where the tappers and other workers cook their meals, have lunch, and take a nap after a long and arduous tapping session.
Legality
Toddy tapping and sale of fermented toddy requires a compulsory government license obtained from the Department of Excise. Additionally, when performing tapping duties, this license and a certificate from the relevant Graama Seva Official must be carried on the tapper’s person.
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