{"id":11683,"date":"2017-12-28T10:30:54","date_gmt":"2017-12-28T10:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/clone\/?p=11683"},"modified":"2021-04-16T10:01:04","modified_gmt":"2021-04-16T09:01:04","slug":"toddy-tapper-sri-lanka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/toddy-tapper-sri-lanka\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning the ropes, literally"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” full_height=”yes” columns_placement=”top” css=”.vc_custom_1513699792554{background-image: url(https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/17-0069R-_MG_6908-v1.0-e1513699760792.jpg?id=11740) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/4″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1511884747982{background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][\/vc_column][vc_column css_animation=”fadeInDown” width=”1\/4″ offset=”vc_hidden-xs”][vc_column_text css_animation=”none” css=”.vc_custom_1512218955506{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;background-color: rgba(0,48,87,0.75) !important;*background-color: rgb(0,48,87) !important;}”]<\/p>\n

TODDY TAPPING<\/span><\/h2>\n

Bentota, Sri Lanka<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=”custom” style=”dotted” el_width=”30″ accent_color=”#adadad”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” parallax=”content-moving” css=”.vc_custom_1512644968608{background-color: #faeee7 !important;background-position: center;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: contain !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][vc_column parallax=”content-moving” width=”1\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1512212743337{background-color: #faeee7 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInDown”]<\/p>\n

TRAVEL CURIOUS<\/span><\/h2>\n

The way in which we all experience<\/span>\u00a0travel is evolving. ETG travellers are increasingly seeking out the authentic stories that lie behind the glossy brochure images, and which, we like to say, reveal the fabric of a destination. So, inspired by your own travel moments, we sought out some of the very human stories that lay behind them. We wanted to share them with you; to inspire you to start thinking about your next travel story and inspire like-minded friends and family members to do the same.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Not your average day job” color=”custom” border_width=”2″ accent_color=”#003057″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” full_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1513700121321{background-image: url(https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/17-0069R-_MG_6516a-e1513700100836.jpg?id=11741) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column css_animation=”fadeInLeft” width=”1\/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1512226567933{background-color: rgba(0,48,87,0.75) !important;*background-color: rgb(0,48,87) !important;}”][vc_column_text]ETG clients have always been captivated by the toddy tappers of Sri Lanka. We\u2019re not surprised – we are too. It\u2019s quite a surreal process to behold and definitely not for the faint-hearted! Watching the guys scale the palms with no safety ropes is pretty impressive, if not, heart-pounding.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Why Tap the Toddy?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Let\u2019s start with the most important factor in all this \u2013 Sri Lankans love a tipple, and tapping the flowers from coconut palms is the foundation for not one, but two famous Sri Lankan drinks. The first is gleaned directly from the flower sap of either palm tree – Kithul or coconut – and called \u2018Toddy\u2019. It ferments naturally over a few days. The second drink comes from mixing the toddy with yeast, which becomes the basis for Arrack: the fiery spirit beloved by Sri Lankan men.<\/span><\/p>\n

You must try at least one glass on your holiday. An \u2018entry level\u2019 Arrack would be as part of an Arrack Mojito \u2013 a delicious drink, best made at one of the converted colonial boutique hotels in Sri Lanka. Purists will always drink it \u2018on the rocks\u2019, or with a dash of soda or water.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_single_image image=”11744″ img_size=”full” css_animation=”fadeInDown”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_single_image image=”11754″ img_size=”full” css_animation=”fadeInDown”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text]The challenge is that the flowers are often 60-100 m high, so it\u2019s a constant process of going between the different palms to get the right flowers at the right time – hence all the ropes between the palms. To collect the sap, the tappers beat the flower over a few days (which aids the fermentation process), then tie a container (labu Katey) and leave this underneath the flower to collect the sap, often overnight. The process can be repeated twice a day. Once a large amount of sap has been collected it can be drunk directly, or mixed with yeast ready for the distillery.<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll find Toddy Tappers scaling the palms trees in a few areas of Sri Lanka<\/a>, primarily along the west coast. Around Chilaw and Bentota are our recommendations to see the sheer scale of their operation.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” full_height=”yes” columns_placement=”bottom” css=”.vc_custom_1513700409294{background-image: url(https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/17-0069R-_MG_7340a-e1513700389794.jpg?id=11742) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Meet Indika Suresh” color=”custom” accent_color=”#003057″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row parallax=”content-moving” css=”.vc_custom_1511884539547{background-position: center;background-repeat: no-repeat;background-size: contain !important;}”][vc_column parallax=”content-moving” css=”.vc_custom_1511886950289{background-color: #faeee7 !important;}”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Indika Suresh is the Toddy Tapper pictured. He is one of around 200 left today working in Sri Lanka full-time. He started working in a local Toddy shop, which was owned by his family, and got to learn the ropes (excuse the pun) from his father. He receives a good income from doing it full-time and can support his wife and 3 children \u2013 21, 18 and 7. He also earns a bit of money from tourists stopping to take photos. Once he\u2019s climbed the ropes, he\u2019ll be up there for around an hour.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_height=”yes” columns_placement=”bottom” content_placement=”bottom” css=”.vc_custom_1513700597716{background-image: url(https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/17-0069R-_MG_6939a-e1513700585712.jpg?id=11738) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column parallax=”content-moving” css_animation=”fadeInDown” width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1512219829030{padding-left: 10% !important;background-color: rgba(250,238,231,0.69) !important;*background-color: rgb(250,238,231) !important;}”][vc_column_text]We asked Indika whether he actually likes Toddy \u2013 he said that he\u2019s a bit immune to it these days, but enjoys a nice glass of Arrack and Soda on a special occasion.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1512219969410{background-color: #0030571 !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1512220050578{background-color: #003057 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

If you want to meet Indika on one of our holidays, then your private chauffeur guide can get in touch with him in advance – he\u2019s based around the Bentota region. We\u2019d also recommend our privately guided bicycle tour around this region.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” full_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1513700450249{background-image: url(https:\/\/www.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/17-0069R-_MG_7536a-e1513700443264.jpg?id=11736) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” css_animation=”fadeInDown” css=”.vc_custom_1513701627931{background-color: #009da5 !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Curious about occupations you didn’t even know existed in Asia?<\/span><\/h1>\n

Show me more <\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” full_height=”yes” parallax=”content-moving” parallax_image=”11739″][vc_column][vc_column_text]\"\"<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” full_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1513702035234{background-color: #003057 !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInDownBig” css=”.vc_custom_1515166550141{background-color: #003057 !important;}”]<\/p>\n

We don\u2019t believe in standing still. Watching<\/span>
\nthe world go by through a window. Hearing it<\/span>
\nthrough the stories of others.<\/span><\/h4>\n

You want to be in it, out there. Asking questions<\/span>
\nand finding answers. Finding yourself in worlds<\/span>
\nunknown. Finding the path less trodden. Meeting<\/span>
\npeople with a different story to tell.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Never stop asking why. What. How. Who? We\u2019ll<\/span>
\nnever stop helping you find the answers.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Our travellers come home with stories to tell,<\/span>
\nmemories to keep and new ways of seeing their<\/span>
\nlives around them. That\u2019s what happens when<\/span>
\nyou truly connect with a destination.<\/span><\/h4>\n

Free your curious side with<\/span>
\nExperience Travel Group.<\/span><\/h4>\n

02033935381 <\/span><\/h4>\n

hello@experiencetravelgroup.com<\/span><\/h4>\n

www.experiencetravelgroup.com<\/span><\/a><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Like most of us, Sri Lankans love a tipple. But how far (or, indeed, high) will they go for their favourite beverage?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":11729,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15,1314],"tags":[1350],"coauthors":[912],"class_list":["post-11683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sri-lanka","category-your-travel-story","tag-travel-community"],"aioseo_notices":[],"views":5755,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11683","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11683"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11683\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11729"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11683"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.experiencetravelgroup.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=11683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}