Red rice in the land of red blood and blue hills
Rich in culture and natural beauty, Assam is known for its tea and silk but many of us are unaware about the iron-rich ‘red rice’ which comes from the state.
Grown in the Brahmaputra valley for ages, this variety is referred as ‘Bao-dhaan in Assamese.
Red Rice, is it?
Red rice is a special variety of rice that gets its colour red from its anthocyanins content. Anthocyanins are coloured water-soluble pigments, which are responsible for the colours - red, purple, and blue in fruits, grains, and vegetables. This rice is unhulled or partially hulled, and has a red husk, unlike the more common brown rice. Nutty in flavour, red rice has high nutritional values, compared to the polished rice varieties.
A deep water rice, it is cultivated on low, swampy lands and flood-prone areas.
The rice has a high content of minerals and proteins.
Benefits of Red Rice
Helps you lose weight
Red rice not only provides proteins and fibers but is also rich in antioxidants and minerals making it a healthy option for weight loss.
Great for your skin
Red rice is said to be beneficial for the skin as the antioxidants in the rice may help in fighting free radicals which protect our skin from premature aging.
The diabetes-friendly rice
This type of rice is slightly sweet, but at the same time, provides proteins and copper. In addition to this, it is also rich in manganese and antioxidants, thus making it highly recommended for people with Diabetes.
Red Rice in Assam!
Bao-dhaan is a kind of locally grown heirloom non-glutinous short-grain rice in Assam. Notably, this rice has earned a reputation for its medicinal properties like having a high content of iron, protein, vitamins, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, thiamine, niacin, manganese, and is high in fiber.
Red Rice – the latest health rage
With so many health benefits, a lot of people these days are sharing their fitness tips and health diets about red rice. Their recipes include red rice khichdi, red rice kheer, and red rice salad.
Red rice is cultivated without the use of chemical fertilizers. This island district uses this heirloom rice to make several traditional ‘Bhar’ delicacies apart from puffed rice and ‘pitha’( a type of rice cake). As such, it is also used for making red dye.
Did someone mention rice?
When it comes to rice, there is none better than the India Gate brand, which stands for legacy, quality, and durability. India Gate is one of the premium brands of rice in the market and contains the freshest grains from the hinterland of the country.