Mahua is a member of the Sapotaceae family and is noted for its sweet blooms, which have a high ethnic value among tribal people and are used to make a variety of fermented and non-fermented foods. Non-fermented goods include halwa, methi puri, and barfi, whereas fermented products include mahua daaru or mahuli. Mahua (Madhuca longifolia) is a fast-growing tree that grows to approximately 20 meters in height, possesses evergreen or semi-evergreen foliage. This tree thrives in arid areas and can be found in tropical mixed deciduous forests across India, including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat and Orissa. There are two varieties, var. longifolia and var. latiflolia, are recognized. It is a type of multifunctional forest tree that offers the three basic needs of food, fodder, and fuel. Because of its various phytochemical properties, it has traditionally been used to treat a variety of ailments, including headaches, diarrhoea, skin, and eye disorders. Mahua is unique among NTFPs since it is connected to tribal subsistence systems in a variety of ways. In addition to supplying food and other necessities, it is a significant source of seasonal revenue. Forest-based small- and large-scale industries offer prospects for medicinal and nutritional importance, value addition, enhance the livelihood of tribal people through increased employment opportunities.