“Rum Fruit Punch represents the evolutionary product of centuries of maritime trade and colonial expansion. Its ancestor, Punch, emerged in the early 17th century with British East India Company sailors creating beverages from local ingredients: spirits, citrus (to combat scurvy), sugar, water, and spices. The name "Punch" likely derives from the Hindi word "paanch," meaning "five," referencing these core ingredients. When British interests shifted to the Caribbean, rum replaced arrack, marking the birth of modern Rum Punch by 1655. The famous Caribbean rhyme "One of Sour, Two of Sweet, Three of Strong, Four of Weak" codified the formula, making it accessible and adaptable across the islands. From the 17th to 19th centuries, punch was the centerpiece of social life, served from ornate communal bowls.”