Arrack and Toddy: Sri Lanka's Coconut Spirits
Long before imported spirits, Sri Lanka made its own drinks from the coconut palm. Toddy, the fresh fermented sap, and arrack, the distilled spirit, remain part of local life and a fun thing for travellers to try.
Toddy
Toddy is the mildly alcoholic sap tapped from coconut or palmyra palms, drunk fresh and slightly sour. It is a rustic, traditional drink found more in villages than tourist bars.
Arrack
Arrack is distilled from the sap into a smooth spirit, often compared loosely to rum or whisky. It is the classic local pour, mixed with soda and lime or ginger beer.
Enjoy responsibly
Try arrack the local way with a splash of soda over ice. Remember that Poya (full moon) days are dry days, with no alcohol sold or served anywhere.
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