What is Mahua?
Mahua is an alcoholic drink made out of flowers of the mahua tree and is a popular summer drink. The drink would be mostly sourced from Bastar and sold under the brand name Mahua. Besides this, the government is also planning to sell de-seeded tamarind and amla as candies and jams
Mahua longifolia is an Indian tropical tree found largely in the central and north Indian plains and forests. It is commonly known as mahuwa, mahua, mahwa, mohulo, or Iluppai or vippa chettu. It is a fast-growing tree that grows to approximately 20 meters in height, possesses evergreen or semi-evergreen foliage, and belongs to the family Sapotaceae.
It is adaptable to arid environments, being a prominent tree in tropical mixed deciduous forests in India in the states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. Mahua seeds are of economic importance as they are good source of edible fats. Flowers have been traditionally used as cooling agent, tonic, aphrodisiac, and astringent, demulcent and for the treatment of helminthes, acute and chronic tonsillitis, pharyngitis as well as bronchitis.
Liquor from Mahua Flowers
A drink must be alcoholic and distilled to be considered a liquor. Hard alcohol has a high alcohol level due to the distillation process and the lack of added sugar. The alcohol by volume (ABV) of the liquor is the percentage, and the proof is the ABV multiplied by two. The term “80 proof” refers to a spirit that contains 40% alcohol by volume (ABV).
Mahua, often known as country liquor, is made from the fermented blooms of the Mahua tree. The cost of dried mahua flowers is much lower than the cost of other raw materials. Three litres of alcohol can be made from five kilogrammes of dried mahua flower.
The quality of a bottle of whiskey can be determined by placing it in a fire and watching it burn. This determines the product’s potency and purity. It has a sweet and smoky aftertaste and is fragrant and surprisingly flowery. It burns down the throat and leaves a sweet and smoky aftertaste. The blossom liquor is mostly colourless, has a slight white hue, and isn’t particularly strong. The flavour is akin to sake and has a distinct mahua flower scent.
Additionally, liquor stimulates blood flow, making the body feel warmer and more relaxed. Wine consumption in moderation is regarded to be beneficial to one’s health. All of the alleged health benefits of alcoholic beverages discussed here are only applicable to moderate consumption.
Uses & Benefits of Mahua Liquor
- Mental tension is relieved: It is thought to relieve mental stress after everyday activity. As a result, eating creates a sense of security.
- Better sleep: Because alcoholic beverages have a sedative effect, they promote tiredness.
- Increased appetite: Alcoholic beverages increase stomach and gut blood flow while also acting as a moderate local irritant. This psychological trait causes a rise in appetite and, as a result, food consumption.
- Increases blood flow to the skin, keeping you warm in the winter and cold.
- Alcohol alters the body’s metabolism, causing it to produce a large number of calories, which contributes to the body’s fat composition.
- Alcohol may make a person less sensitive to bodily discomfort following an injury or accident, allowing them to ignore it. Because the pain-sensing areas of the brain have gone numb.
- It reduces gallstone risk by a third: Drinking two units of alcohol per day reduces gallstone risk by a third.
- Reduces the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: Healthy adults who drink one to two glasses of wine per day have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes than those who do not drink at all.
- Nonsmokers who drank moderate amounts of alcohol had a decreased incidence of the common cold.
Business Scope & Market
According to the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), India is one of the world’s fastest growing alcoholic beverage markets, with a market worth $52.5 billion (about Rs 3.9 lakh crore). The market is predicted to grow at a 6.8% CAGR till 2023, according to the research. Almost 15 lakh people work in the industry.
In terms of capacity creation, distribution, and taxation, the government has always carefully regulated the liquor business. Even in conservative India, contrary to popular assumption, it is a signal of high society. The state is in a bind as a result of the industry. It can’t resist the draw of large profits while avoiding the embarrassment of encouraging excessive drinking.
Illegal manufacturing and consumption must be avoided in order for the sector to survive and operate. With a stronghold in the north, Country Liquor has the most market share in India, making it the country’s most popular alcoholic beverage. In the short term, country liquor is predicted to keep its market share advantage, but the IMFL category is expected to gain ground in the long run.
Due to a growing trend toward alcohol consumption and an increase in the number of pubs and bars around the world, the market is expected to grow over the forecast period. In addition, the increased number of women who consume alcohol is predicted to boost the industry’s growth.
