A punch is any of a wide assortment of juice-based mixed drinks, both soft and alcoholic, that are typically served in large, wide bowls at parties.

Originally, the word "punch" was a loanword from Hindi. It was made of the five basic ingredients arrack , sugar, lemon, water, and tea. Because of this it was named "panc" (meaning "five" in Hindi), which was adopted by the sailors of the East India Company and was introduced into England. From here it was introduced into other European countries.

In Germanic culture, this (in German, "Punsch") refers to a mixture of several fruit juices and spices, often with wine or liquor added. Punsch is popular in Germany, as well as with many Germans who emigrated to the U.S.. Punsch sometimes contains fresh fruit, such as pineapple chunks or whole strawberries; such punsches are known as "Erdbeerbowlen" and "Ananasbowlen" ("strawberry bowls" and "pineapple bowls"). Famous in particular is the "Feuerzangenbowle" around christmas, which includes red wine and lighting rum poured over a sugar loaf.

A very simple punch recipe is to add sherbet to chilled ginger ale.

See also

• Punsch (a Swedish arrack-based liquor)