Punch (drink)

drink usually containing fruit or fruit juice

Punch refers to many drinks made from fruit or fruit juice and sometimes alcohol.[1] The drink was started in India, then was brought to the United Kingdom in the early 1600s. The drink spread to other countries.[2] Punch is usually served at parties in large bowls known as punch bowls.

A punch bowl at a party


In fact, the word “punch” is thought to derive from the Hindi word for “five,” as the original drink was frequently made with just five ingredients: alcohol (usually rum, brandy, or arack), sugar, juice (from either a lime or a lemon), water, and spices (like nutmeg). Others believe the word originates from the English “puncheon,” which was a volumetric description for certain sized barrels used to transport alcohol on ships.[3]

References

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  1. Punch at dictionary.com
  2. Edwards, Graham and Sue. The Language of Drink, Alan Sutton Publishing, 1988.
  3. Plappert, Jordan (2020-09-09). "A Short History of Punch, 5 Recipes to Try | The Beverage Experts". Flavorman. Retrieved 2023-10-31.