A much-needed boost for vends in a state that’s hot about toddy

Kerala plans to revamp its toddy shops to attract more tourists. The move aims to improve customer experience and push toddy as a traditional alcoholic beverage

KOCHI It’s 2pm and Kaloor junction, in the heart of Kochi, is buzzing with vehicles. Barely 50m away from the busy traffic intersection, there is a whiteboard with two words on it, ubiquitous across Kerala. “Kallu”, it says in Malayalam, “toddy” in English. Inside the compound, under the shade of a tree and almost masked by the growth is the shop the board announces — nondescript, single-storeyed, with peeling thin white paint, and a dangerously loose asbestos roof.

According to the new plan that will be put in place, the around 5,000 toddy shops in the state are set to be given a facelift (HT Photo)

The lunch