Salubrious buttermilk (mohi) makes a smooth comeback

By Our Correspondent,Hile, Apr. 6: It has been about a year and a half as Raju Ghimire, a dairy entrepreneur of Dhankuta Municipality-1, started branding buttermilk.

Buttermilk, known as mohi in Nepali, is more than just a refreshing drink; it’s an integral part of Nepali culture and cuisine.

Recently, the use of buttermilk has been increasing as cold drink everywhere in the city, market and village. 

Replacing the old Nepali tradition of drinking mohi, cold drinks are also available in the villages and towns. 

But, Ghimire, an entrepreneur of Dhankuta, is continuously working to brand mohi and use it instead of cold drinks. 

He packs and labels mohi in one-litre bottles.  He makes quality mohi and supplies it to villages, cities, markets, and public programmes everywhere. 

He said that he has been producing and supplying buttermilk in the brand of 'Durga Mohi'.

Ghimire's Singhadevi Dairy Industry, which started its dairy business in 2075 BS, started producing 'Durga Mohi' five years later, starting in 2080 BS. 

He said that after the sales of butter, paneer and chhurpi stopped in the market, mohi products, which were started in a different way to survive in the dairy business and give it a new try, are now becoming a brand in Dhankuta.

According to him, it was difficult to supply buttermilk as per the demand in the market as the demand for buttermilk is growing over time.

“After being forced to leave the business, I thought that mohi would be different from others and started producing it, but now I have not been able to meet the demand,” he said.

He said that the local level should create an environment where mohi is used instead of cold drinks.

He said that his industry is currently producing and selling more than 300 litres of mohi daily. 

During events, buttermilk has to be produced more than this according to demand, he said. 

According to him, the produce reaches areas such as Hile, Pakhribas and Sidhuwa in Dhankuta.

He said that his dairy is now producing butter, paneer and chhurpi along with mohi. 

Consumers said that they consume mohi because it is pure, delicious, nutritious and pesticide-free. 

Bimal Dahal, a local from Dhankuta, said that he uses mohi because it is healthier than other beverages.

Mohi is packed and labeled in one-litre bottles. After packing, it is easy to transport it anywhere. 

After quality test, the Department of Food Standards and Metrology has allowed to use mohi for about a week after packing.