More than intoxicating
the deciduous plant mahua is one of the most important flora species of Orissa. It is also found in Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Its flowers are valued across the country for brewing a local liquor, which is called mahuli in Oriya. Its fruits are eaten raw and the seed kernels are crushed to expel edible oil. The plant wood is the most preferred for firewood amongst women as it burns without emitting much of the choking smoke.
Madhuca indica
