Hot toddy is a spirit-based drink with added sweetener, often used to relieve cold or sore throat symptoms, relax before bedtime, or after exposure to cold temperatures. Its origins are believed to be from India, and variations include different types of alcohol, spices, and liquids. The drink is also used as an inexpensive home medicine, with alcohol and citrus fruits being common ingredients in cough mixtures.
A hot toddy is a drink that is usually associated with relieving the symptoms of a cold or sore throat. It’s a spirit-based drink with an added sweetener, such as honey or sugar. Besides being used for medicinal purposes, toddy can also be used to help a person relax in the evening. It is also used when people have been exposed to cold temperatures or experienced a shock to the system.
There are various accounts of the origins of hot toddy. Popular thought holds that this drink came from Great Britain via India. In India, the juice of some palm trees was called tari. This juice has been made into a dark, sweet alcoholic beverage. At that time the British in India replicated the drink using spices, fruits and alcohol and introduced it to Britain.
The variations on the drink itself are plentiful. The alcohol used is usually some form of whiskey, but several types of alcohol are acceptable. A hot toddy can be used to relax after a shock, and this effect is mostly achieved by alcohol.
A hot toddy can also be used to relax a person before bedtime, and this is again accomplished by the influence of alcohol on the system. The alcohol is mixed with warm water and a sweet substance, such as sugar or honey. If you have a sore throat, the honey will coat your throat and stop the irritation. Alcohol will also have a calming effect which will help a person sleep.
This drink has long been used as an inexpensive home medicine. If you look at the ingredients in many cough mixtures, you’ll notice that alcohol is one of the main ingredients used. Alcohol is absorbed very quickly into the bloodstream and has a pain-relieving effect. Citrus fruits are also often used in young children. The vitamins in citrus fruits are believed to help fight the common cold.
Spices are another additive used to make a hot toddy. Cinnamon and cloves are very popular as a way to give the drink extra flavour. The primary liquid in a hot toddy is usually hot water, but variations include lemonade, cider, tea, and coffee.
Once the hot toddy has been heated and mixed, all you have to do is drink it. Some people claim that sipping it slowly has a more beneficial and warming effect. Others claim that tipping the drink in one gulp gives a jolt to the system which is helpful when taken after a shock. Of course, the amount of alcohol used is the main factor in determining whether the drink is relaxing or a stimulating kick to the system.
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