The jam and jelly made of ‘Mohua’ flower.

[KANNA KUMAR SIRIPURAPU]

BHUBANESWAR: Mohua, a prominent forest produce, is generally known for its usage in manufacturing of traditional liquor. But, it is all set to serve breakfast tables after its transformation into yummy jam and jelly.

Guess who are processing it into jam and jelly? Women members of remote forest villages in Nayagarh district have taken the lead. Hundreds of visitors at the ongoing tribal fair here are halting for a moment in front of the stall selling jam and jelly made of ‘mohua’ and taken note of the product. Mahua’ has been a very popular non-timber forest produce among tribals of Orissa since time immemorial. It is a deciduous tree found both in forest as well as non-forest areas in all parts of the State. In fact it is common throughout central India-Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

“Mohua’ cannot be kept for long duration for which it never fetches its actual value in the market. We made little technological intervention by removing stigma part of ‘mohua’ flower which is causing bitter smell. Then dried ‘mohua’ is altered to paste. After addition of preservatives, the jam and jelly are ready for consumption,”. “Sagadbhanga and Gocchabari are two villages located in the fringe of Baisipalli Wildllife Sanctuary in Nayagarh district where the experiment is carried and 10 kg of dried ‘mahua’ has been processed into delicious ‘mohua’ jam and jelly,” says Sweta Mishra, programme officer of Vasundhara. Now the women groups have come together to form a cooperative called ‘Ma Panthei Mahila Cooperative’ to have collective procurement and trading of the forest produce.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/08/stories/2010020855300300.htm

[Vinodh Valluri]

That's an interesting story. Aren't mahua/mohua flowers originally used for medicinal food purposes? What is the Ayurvedic view on making it a jam or jelly? While Madhuca indica is itself used as a pain relieving agent in migraines {read http://www.indianetzone.com/49/mahua.htm} . One website says, "Madhuca indica is commonly called Butter tree or Honey tree, which belongs to Sapotaceae family. Madhuca is generally known by the name of Mahua. It has various health benefits. Its bark, flowers, seeds, fruits and heartwood are used for medicinal purposes. The oil obtained from seeds is used as an ointment. The flowers have astringent, healing, appetizer and tonic properties." I am concerned that the 'modernization' of local medicines will cause adverse health effects. Is there more information on the whole issue? Any research?

[KANNA KUMAR SIRIPURAPU]

Dear Promila Sharma,

Nice to learn that you would like to have a taste of the Jam and Jelly, You can contact the following for more information.

Mr. Rana Roy
E-mail: [e-mail]
Tel / Fax - 0674-2542011 / 12 / 28

[Promila Sharma]

Interesting indeed. Wish we could get it here in Delhi to taste as well!

[KANNA KUMAR SIRIPURAPU]

Dear Dr. Gopi Kanta Ghosh,
Thank you so much for the information, I shall share it with my colleagues, I'm sure this information would help them to enrich the quality and publicity for the products. Thank you!

[GOPI KANTA GHOSH]

Not only flower they prepare dishes from fruits both fresh and dried. I tasted many. They also consume milk after boiling with Mahua flower. Mahua flower is rich in calcium and milk is good solvent of calcium salts. Thus they consume milk richer in calcium than us besides giving good aroma.