The Golden Curve of the Sugar Palm Tree

Driving through Cambodia, I thought it was so amazing to see these sugar palm trees break the horizon and tower into the sky all around the nearby land. Now, reflecting back on it, I realize I had it all backwards. The jungle has been cleared, and with it, probably far too many trees.

While not known for sure, sugar palms, also known as toddy palms, may be the reason for the name of the drink, hot toddy. The sugar (toddy) palm tree is found throughout Southeast Asia as well as in India. A member of the East India Company could have introduced the term to Scotland, where the drink is more common.

Sugar palm trees dot the Cambodian landscape.