Goa government classified its country liquor, Feni as Heritage Spirit of Goa

Goa government on 17 March 2016 classified the country liquor, Feni as Heritage Spirit of Goa.  Feni is the form of spirit produced exclusively in the coastal state.
•    Feni is the first liquor product in the country to obtain such status and got its Geographical Indication (GI) certification in 2000.
•    It used in various cultural traditions, cuisines and is well known for its medicinal value also. 
•    Hence, the Government opined not categorize it as country liquor as it is presently defined under the Goa Excise Duty Act, 1964 and proposed to bring an amendment to the Act.
•    Feni is a brew made from coconut or cashew fruits and is synonymous with the Goan ethos and identity.
•    Goa is a state located in the South western region of India; it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. 
•    It is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Goa is one of India's richest states with a GDP per capita two and a half times that of the country as a whole. 
•    It was ranked the best placed state by the Eleventh Finance Commission for its infrastructure and ranked on top for the best quality of life in India by the National Commission on Population based on the 12 Indicators.
•    Panaji is the state's capital, while Vasco da Gama is the largest city. 
•    The historic city of Margao still exhibits the cultural influence of the Portuguese, who first landed in the early 16th century as merchants and conquered it soon thereafter. 
•    Goa is a former Portuguese province; the Portuguese overseas territory of Portuguese India existed for about 450 years until it was annexed by India in 1961.