Fresh brew: Goa’s Feni to sport ‘Heritage Spirit’ tag

“The state government will move an amendment to the Goa Excise Duty Act, 1964, which will save Feni from being tagged as country liquor and instead would be classified as Heritage Spirit,” Commissioner of Excise, Goa, Menino D’Souza said. 

The amendment is likely to be moved during the upcoming monsoon session of the Goa Assembly scheduled for July. The move is expected to open up markets for Feni across the country. 

The Feni distilling industry has been demanding removal of the country liquor tag as the brew has already won the Geographical Indication recognition. Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar recently announced the decision to accord Feni the status of a heritage spirit. 

“We want to place Feni alongside tequila and scotch, which were also once known as country liquors,” D’Souza added. 

Feni marketing has hit a roadblock due to the country liquor label as its sale is not allowed in any other state except Daman. 

Speaking to DT Next, D’Souza said, “Kaju or cashew feni was always referred to as a country liquor as there was no standardisation in its manufacturing process. Once it is classified as a heritage drink, we can start looking into the standardisation, which will eliminate issues such as adulteration and fake feni being sold. Once this is done, we will be writing to all states, making it legal for feni to be sold outside Goa.” 

S Nallasamy, convener, Tamil Nadu Toddy Movement says, “Every state and country has its own ‘heritage spirit’ and toddy is the best heritage drink. So, the state government should consider legalising sale of toddy as early as possible. Toddy bottles should be labelled as TN’s traditional liquor.” 

He also pointed out that since all political parties have given a clarion call to bring in prohibition if voted to power, they should look at toddy as a heritage drink at least now. He said Tamil Nadu should take a cue from Goa. 

“The toddy movement has long been demanding from successive governments to permit tapping and sale of toddy. Toddy is still being seen as an intoxicant,” the convener added. C Vaiyapuri, president, United Farmers Association, Tamil Nadu, said, “It is strange that the governments fail to understand the significance of toddy as a heritage drink.”