Experts said Ippa could be positioned not only as a spirit but also as a botanical ingredient for products such as herbal teas, tonic water, craft beer, culinary-grade dried flowers, artisan chocolates, ice creams and soft drinks. The Telangana government is gearing up to launch a comprehensive Mahua (Ippa) flower project aimed at converting a traditional forest resource into a sustainable livelihood model for tribal communities. Changes in policy considered It is also considering Excise policy changes to allow Mahua spirit and liquor, drawing on models in other States. About ₹200 crore is likely to be allocated for the project this year, with around 2.5 lakh tribal families expected to benefit, official sources said. Processing units across forest regions As part of this initiative, Mahua-based processing units will be established across forest regions where the Mahua (Madhuca longifolia) flower is available abundantly. Telangana Ippa Spirit The proposed plans include heritage spirit licensing for distilleries to be owned by tribals, efforts to obtain a Geographical Indication (GI), the establishment of quality and grading standards, and pilot …