1. Telangana plans advanced bottling and cooling to keep fresh palmyra toddy sweet and non-sour, targeting sales in star hotels like fresh milk storage.
2. Adopting Kerala's 2025-26 policy—toddy as "signature drink," branded "Kerala Toddy" in 3+ star hotels via permits—for high-tech freezing and potential bottling.
3. Boosting palmyra cultivation and building on Neera Cafe (now run by BC Welfare dept) to promote kallu culturally, create jobs, and enhance Tourism.

The Telangana government is gearing up for an innovative push to elevate traditional kallu (toddy) from village palm groves to upscale star hotels, aiming to promote it on a large scale while preserving its fresh, authentic appeal. Officials in the Excise and Prohibition Department are exploring advanced bottling and cooling technologies to keep the beverage fresh, drawing direct inspiration from Kerala's progressive toddy policies.

Fresh toddy from palmyra (eetha) trees is celebrated for its natural sweetness and invigorating taste when consumed soon after tapping. However, it quickly ferments, turning sour and less palatable. To counter this, the department proposes bottling kallu akin to fresh milk—maintaining low freezing temperatures in specialized cooling bottles for storage and sale in star hotels. This would ensure consistent quality and wider accessibility.

Kerala's model serves as a blueprint: In its 2025-26 liquor, the southern state declared toddy its "signature drink," allowing three-star and higher hotels in tourism centers to operate dedicated toddy parlours. These can source fresh toddy from local shops via permits (Rs 2 per litre fee), brand it as "Kerala Toddy," and even explore bottled exports and value-added products. Toddy shops are being modernized into family-friendly spaces, with revised tapping limits and worker involvement in operations. This tourism-focused approach has boosted the traditional industry while enhancing hospitality offerings.

Telangana plans to adopt similar high-tech storage, bottling, and freezing methods from Kerala if needed, making premium kallu a star hotel staple. Additionally, the government intends to encourage large-scale palmyra tree cultivation to secure supply chains and support the Goud community of tappers.

This builds on prior efforts: The previous BRS regime launched the Neera Cafe on Necklace Road in 2023, funded by the Kallugeetha Industrial Association and BC Welfare Department, promoting non-alcoholic Neera as a health drink. The current Congress government handed its operations to the Goud community through BC Welfare. Earlier initiatives included distributing high-yield palm saplings and safety gear for tappers.

If realized, this could revitalize kallu as a cultural heritage beverage, generate employment for thousands of traditional tappers, and add a unique local flavor to Telangana's growing tourism and hospitality sector.