A Forest Ingredient Famous for Liquor Gets a Healthy Makeover
In Jharkhand, the word mahua usually brings to mind country liquor. The tree grows in abundance in the dense forests of Khunti, and for years its flowers have been used chiefly to brew alcohol. But that image is now changing. Women in the villages are using the very same mahua to make chocolate and biscuits that are not only delicious but also surprisingly good for health. They contain almost negligible calories and no sugar at all, which makes them safe even for people with diabetes. On top of that, they are loaded with protein and other essential vitamins.
The Journey From Brewing to Entrepreneurship
Showing off her range of products, Saloni explains how the shift came about. The mahua, she says, is specially gathered and sent in by women from the forests of Khunti. These same women once brewed and sold liquor from it, but the trade brought them little profit and was hardly good for society. With that in mind, the team began experimenting with mahua, and the result is a lineup that today stretches from chocolate to cookies.
A Taste That Takes On Big Brands
Saloni is confident the products can hold their own against any leading brand. In her words, "Just taste it once and you won't be able to tell it's mahua. In flavour it competes with big-brand chocolate, and diabetes patients can eat as much as they like, because the calorie count is just 5 to 10, no more. We have also done research on this." Beyond chocolate and cookies, she points out, the range includes mahua candy, pickle and even syrup. So if you want a different flavour in your cake, you can simply reach for the syrup.
Livelihood for 300 Women, With a Focus on Hygiene
What was once used only to make liquor is now being shaped by women's hands into a whole variety of products. The initiative is giving around 300 women both employment and income. Saloni says they run their own cluster, from where all these items are sourced, and the women prepare everything by hand. Throughout the process, special care is taken to maintain purity and cleanliness.
Priced to Suit Every Budget
The products are also easy on the pocket. Cookies fall in the ₹50-100 range, and chocolate sits within the same bracket — meaning everything from candy to chocolate is available for between 50 and 100 rupees. The syrup, meanwhile, is priced at 200-250 rupees, so buyers can pick according to their budget and needs. Turning mahua into items like these is not just innovative; for the calorie-conscious and for sugar patients, it is nothing short of a boon.
