Most of you must
have heard about Goa’s famous booze – Feni. Did you know that the original Goan
Feni is not available out the state of Goa. And what is the reason for this
restriction? Lousy government policies!
As per reliable
sources, 60,000 bottles of Feni is bottled annually in Goa. Local experts say,
it takes three days to make the Goan Feni. Now the GI certification gives only
Goa the right to produce Feni. GI certification assigned to Feni in 2009 is
valid for 10 years. And GI is considered as the first step towards claiming
international registration.
Unfortunately as it
has been labelled ‘Country liquor’ it cannot be sold in other parts of the
country. Such alcohol can be on sale only within the boundaries of the state
producing them. Also by virtue of the certification, only liquor made from
cashew apples within Goa can be called Feni, very much like Champagne, the wine
made in Champagne region of France.
Feni bottlers and
distillers have been lobbying with the state governments to classify the brew
as ‘heritage liquor’ or IMFL (Indian made foreign liquor) so that it can be
sold in other states with big demand and large market for Feni, that is famous
as the Goan brew with the real kick.
‘The GI tag has
absolutely not helped the marketing or sales of cashew Feni. If it is made
IMFL, then may be the market will open up,’ says Gurudatta Bhakta, Secretary of
the Cashew Feni distillers & bottlers association. However the President of
the association, Mac Vaz differs, ‘The GI certification is to protect cashew
Feni, not to promote it. The GI tag will prevent other states, such as Maharastra,
Karnataka or Kerala which also produce large quantities of cashew apples, from
producing and selling Feni. He feels if, the government classifies cashew Feni
as ‘heritage liquor’, exporting it will become easier. According to the
association sources, fake cashew Feni volumes are increasing to probably about
20 times the genuine stuff. Most of which is sold to unsuspecting local and
foreign tourists. Besides most of the stuff sold in shacks, taverns and bars in
Goa is also adulterated brew. Now the association is serious and has initiated
a move to certify the genuine Goan cashew Feni. The government and present
chief minister has promised to look into the matter, not only protecting it but
also marketing it all over. It will also fetch the state good revenue. And one
day Goan Feni might be famous world-wide as the Champagne from France or Vodka
from Russia.
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