Forbidden (Black) Rice

I love food with a story! In a healthy eating book (my favorite genre 😄) there was some information about rice and I discovered a couple of interesting new ones to try. Healthier for you than some, the red and black rice were at the top of those lists and soon added to my menu planning. I’ve been playing around and cooking red and black rice with different spices and stocks, and so far have enjoyed everything!

Forbidden (black) rice is a medium-grain, non-glutinous heirloom rice with a deep purple hue and a nutty, slightly sweet flavor. It has been especially fun because it is so different looking on your plate (adds a variety to the rainbow of colors!) and has a delicious nutty flavor too. But, my favorite part is the story.

In China, forbidden rice earned its name because once it was learned that it had greater health benefits, it was reserved for the Chinese emperor to ensure his health and longevity, and it was forbidden for anyone else to eat it. Once black rice was discovered as being “superior” to other types of rice due to its rich health benefits and powerful medicinal properties, it is said that a handful of noble Chinese men saw an opportunity in this and scoured the country, taking every grain of black rice and withholding it from the public. They controlled its production, severely limiting the quantities and selling it strictly to royalty, creating a huge demand. The common people were forbidden from growing or eating it, earning its very popular label – forbidden black rice.

It is certainly not as common as other types of rice, but black rice is the highest in antioxidant levels and contains more protein than brown rice. Eating black rice may offer several health benefits, including boosting eye and heart health, protecting against certain forms of cancer, and aiding in weight loss.

So the story is good, and the forbidden rice is good! Simply cook as you would other rices, either in broth or water, add any spices you like, vegetables, etc, and enjoy this fun new side dish!