Bastar youth develops caffeine-free herbal coffee from chhind seeds

A young entrepreneur from Bacheli in Dantewada district is turning local waste into a health-conscious beverage. Vishal Haldar, a commerce and software development graduate, has developed a herbal coffee using the seeds of chhind (a local wild date palm species), a resource previously considered useless in the Bastar region.The initiative aims to provide a healthy alternative for coffee enthusiasts seeking to avoid caffeine. Haldar spent two years researching and experimenting with local resources and online technical guides to perfect the process. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai recently facilitated Haldar after his innovation secured the first position at the Innovation Mahakumbh at state-run Bastar University.The herbal coffee is entirely caffeine-free and contains high levels of antioxidants found naturally in chhind seeds. Haldar noted that many people consume coffee for its taste and habit rather than just mental alertness, making this a viable substitute.The product gained significant attention during the Innovation Mahakumbh held at Shaheed Mahendra Karma Vishwavidyalaya, Jagdalpur. Chhattisgarh Finance Minister OP Choudhary, along with university professors and visitors, tasted the brew and appreciated the effort.Haldar is currently working with the Dantewada district administration’s Youth UP Foundation to encourage local youth toward entrepreneurship. He intends to create employment opportunities for villagers by sourcing chhind seeds from the forests, providing them with an additional source of income.While the project is currently in the testing and development phase ahead of an official commercial launch, the initiative highlights the potential of local resources. This herbal coffee could emerge as a distinct product from Bastar for health-conscious consumers in the future.