State Sports and Excise Minister Srinivas Goud said that Neera is a non-alcoholic drink packed with health benefits.
Minister Srinivas Goud and Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav launched a new Neera cafe at Necklace Road in Hyderabad on Wednesday. The officials said that the new Neera Cafe is a tribute to the generational occupation of the Goud community and the toddy tappers who died by falling from the palm trees.
Hailing from the Goud community, Minister Srinivas Goud said that he has always been an advocate for uplifting the community, promoting the nutritional values of Neera drink, and dismantling myths and speculations around the community, “There are many people from other communities who are speculating that we are selling alcohol. I want you to know that Neera has no alcohol content, it is an unfermented drink. Hence, it is packed with nutritional values. Scientists and doctors have confirmed this. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has supported the Goud community by providing insurance to toddy tappers who have fallen to death,” he said.
Neera is a sap extracted from the inflorescence of toddy palms and is used as a drink. The Neera or toddy is tapped by toddy tappers, a predominant community in Telangana known as Gouds.
Mahesh Goud, a localite and a Goud community leader, explained that Neera is sweet with a mild aroma of ripe palm fruit and is non-alcoholic, making it suitable for consumption by all from young children to the elderly. Neera is considered a health drink and provides employment to the Goud community that has traditionally depended on tapping for a livelihood.
The state government is collaborating with Toddy Tappers across the state and selling Neera and a range of byproducts in the new Neera cafe. Thati Bellam (Jaggery), palm sugar, and neera syrup (honey) and Palm flavored ice creams and more are sold at the brand new Neera cafe to the public. The Neera drink produced by the Telangana government retails for Rs 90 for a 300 ml bottle.
