National Punch Day

National Punch Day is observed annually on 20 September. Although this day could go in many directions, for instance honouring tools that make holes or a day created to throw some punches at a punching bag, the day will actually point you in a completely different direction.

This day was created to celebrate the refreshing, thirst-quenching drink known as punch, and is just one of the many listed American Food Holidays.

Punch can be alcoholic, or non-alcoholic, depending on the drinker’s preference. It is often made with a combination of fruit juice and carbonated drinks and is usually served at parties, weddings and other celebrations in a large, wide bowl known as a punch-bowl.

It is believed that sailors travelling to England via India in the early 17th century first introduced the drink, which grew in popularity and soon spread to other countries.

The word ‘punch’ is a loan-word from Hindi that means ‘five’ – the drink was originally made with five ingredients, including alcohol, sugar, lemon, water and tea or spices, and was named ‘paantsch’.

Many fruit punch beverages are distributed today by soft drink manufacturers. They’re typically red in colour. Despite their name, these commercial drinks only contain a small fraction of actual fruit juice as the major ingredients are sugar or corn syrup, citric acid and artificial flavours.

To celebrate, make some punch. Go to the internet and browse through the thousands of available recipes or page through some recipe books. Find a delicious recipe and try something new.

Post on social media using #NationalPunchDay.

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