Inspired By Goa's 'Feni', Kerala Can Soon Say Cheers With Native Cashew Liquor

News18

2 days ago

Last Updated:
This native alcoholic beverage from Kerala's Kannur district will be distilled from fresh cashews in the district and is set to make its debut in January 2026
A political worker from Kerala's Kannur district, Thuluvananikkal Micheal Joshy will finally be able to realise his 35-year-old dream: to make low-alcohol cashew liquor inspired by the iconic Goan 'feni', for which he received approval.
This native alcoholic beverage will be distilled from fresh cashews in the district and is set to make its debut in January 2026. Joshy conceived this idea in 1990 while serving as the president of the Payyavur Panchayat, a region known for cashew cultivation.
'We get 11 kg of fruit for every 1 kg of cashew nuts. Most of the fruit goes waste. We can make one litre of low-alcohol cashew liquor from 22 kg of fruit," Joshy told News18.
Initially supported by then chief minister EK Nayanar, the project faced setbacks when the regime changed. Despite these challenges, Joshy continued to pursue his dream.
In 2014, he became the president of the Payyavoor Service Cooperative Bank, which approached the state government in 2016 with a proposal to turn the region's cashew surplus into a signature spirit. The project gained momentum in June 2022 when MV Govindan, the excise minister, gave the official nod.
With the assembly subject committee's report now approved and the finance department setting tax rates, production is finally on the horizon. 'It has been a long journey to secure the assembly subject committee's approval. We expect to begin production by December this year," he said.
The cooperative has reserved four acres of land in Kankirakolli for liquor production. 'The production will be an updated version of the Goan style, and we have discussed this with the Excise officers," he said.
To ensure quality, the cooperative plans to involve local farmers. 'We plan to market the product in 1 litre and 500 ml bottles, estimating the production cost at around Rs 200 to Rs 250 per litre. With a 100% excise tax, we expect to price it starting at Rs 500. While we aim for foreign markets, we have already discussed distribution with Consumerfed and Beverages Corporation," he said.
The name, however, is still undecided. 'We like to call it 'Kannur Feni', but since there is a patent for 'feni' in Goa, we're cautious about using the term. With excise approval in hand, we'll seek legal advice on this matter. However, we prefer the name Kannur Feni as it is easily recognisable," he said.
Although the current licence permits distillation strictly from cashews, Joshy further said low-alcohol spirits could also be made using similar procedures with other fruits such as pineapple, jackfruit, and cocoa.
First Published: