A History of Agriculture in India v2.c69.s1.5

v2.c69.s1.5

The Mahua. The (Beng.) mahua (Madhuca indica) is another. This also is a very large tree. Most of the wood in the houses of Hindustanis is from it. Spirit is distilled from its flowers; not only so, but they are dried and eaten like raisins, and from them, thus dried, spirit is also extracted. The dried flowers taste just like kishmish; they have an ill-flavour. The flowers are not bad in their natural state; they are eatable. The mahua grows wild also. Its fruit is tasteless, has rather a large seed with a thin husk, and from this seed, again, oil is extracted.