GI tag puts Mandu's Khurasani Imli on the global map

The fruit of Mandu’s iconic Baobab tree, known locally as Khurasani Imli, has secured a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, a move that officials believe will safeguard the species’ legacy while creating new livelihood opportunities for tribal communities that have preserved it for generations, according to Times of India report.

Dhar Collector Rajeev Ranjan Meena said the recognition would significantly raise the profile of the fruit. “With the GI tag given to Khurasani Imli, the fruit has received recognition and its peculiarities, origin, uses and everything about it will be known to the whole world,” he told TOI.

He added that the certification would strengthen branding and commercial prospects. “This will be very helpful in its branding and marketing, because till now, a few tribal people were selling this Imli on roadsides, along with products made out of it. Now, those products will be sold with official marking regarding their vitamin and nutrient values. Tourists will also take interest in it after it gets the GI tag,” he said.


The Baobab tree (Adansonia digitata), believed to have been introduced to Mandu nearly six centuries ago by Afghan and Arab traders, is not indigenous to India. Over time, the species adapted to the region’s climate and terrain, making Mandu home to the country’s largest concentration of naturally occurring Baobab trees. Known for their enormous, water-storing trunks and distinctive branch structure that resembles an inverted tree, the Baobabs have become one of the area’s most recognisable landmarks.

The trees are also a major attraction for visitors. Local guide Vishwanath Tiwari said the species forms a key part of his tours. “It is in my itinerary for both inland and foreign tourists. I show this tree and tell about its historical as well as medicinal importance to them,” he said.

Khurasani Imli, a light green fruit with a tangy sweet-sour flavour, grows across villages in the Mandu region. Tribal communities have traditionally used not only the pulp but also the tree’s juice and dried bark for treating ailments such as diabetes.

According to GI tag expert and Padma Shri awardee Dr Rajnikant, the fruit’s nutritional and medicinal properties have long been recognised. “The tangy pulp of Khurasani Imli is packed with Vitamin C, antioxidants, and essential minerals. Tribal healers have long used it to treat digestive ailments, fever, and fatigue, while seeds and bark also hold medicinal value,” he said.

Rajnikant said the GI status could spur wider cultivation and value-added industries around the fruit. “This will encourage conservation, new plantations, and value-added industries, directly benefiting tribal families involved in collection and processing,” he said.

Officials estimate that more than 1,000 Baobab trees are spread across the Mandu area, making it the only region in India with such a large population of the species. The horticulture and agriculture departments have initiated efforts to establish a cooperative society that would help organise the marketing of Baobab-based products.

However, despite the tree’s cultural and ecological significance, officials noted that there is currently no dedicated government programme for its conservation, nor has any formal research been conducted to scientifically document its medicinal properties. For now, tribal families continue to market products such as Baobab juice and dried bark directly to tourists visiting Mandu.

(With inputs from TOI)