PANAJI
If 'feni' could successfully get the GI tag then why not the more soothing and equally unique to Goa 'urrack', was a question fogging the minds of aficionados of these two heady and widely popular distillates of the cashew apple juice, all this while.
Now, that question and suspense over urrack's lack of a GI tag may not last for very long as the State government has already initiated the ground work to achieve the status.
Poriem MLA, Deviya Rane, who is chairperson of the Goa Forest Development Corporation which is hosting the three-day 'Cashew Fest' at Campal from Friday, revealed the government's quest to get the GI tag for urrak even as she stressed that it was essential to up the perception about cashew-based spirits.
"The cashew distillates shouldn't be known as a poor man's drink or merely country liquor. They deserve to be recognised as premium spirits on par with the finest alcohol worldwide," Rane said, adding that both feni and urrak should get bracketed in the 'premium class' of spirits.
"We have submitted a proposal to secure a GI tag for Urrack. Once achieved, it can be made available in bottled form, exclusively produced in Goa with authentic Goan cashews, ensuring authenticity," Rane said.
Producers, particularly owners of some well known 'Cashew Feni' brands however opine that selling bottled urrack may be a challenge as shelf life of the distillate is low and the spirit is known to be tainted if not stored in favourable conditions.
