Bamboo Rice: Everything You Need to Know About the Tribal Savory!

Indians are die hard rice lovers and nobody can take this privilege from us. The typical dal chawal, rajma chawal and chhole chawal are to die for and you would agree. Rice makes an indispensable part of any meal in a typical North Indian and a South Indian household and why not, it has been giving us some great culinary experiences with its exceptional aroma and simple taste. For years we have been experimenting with rice, turning it into different dishes including idlis,dosas and evenphirni. However, there are different varieties of rice that may not be as popular, but make our history of rice richer and intriguing. One of the types of rice is bamboo rice aka Mulayari, a beautiful and natural short grain, which is the last souvenir of a dying bamboo shoot. Let us know more about this 'tribal' rice that may be uncommon, but has an interesting story of harvest.

 

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Bamboo Rice- Unfolding its Story

Bamboo rice is special rice that is grown out of a dying bamboo shoot. When the bamboo shoot breathes its last, it flowers into a rare variety of rice seeds, which are known as bamboo rice. It is said that the bamboo rice harvesting is a major source of income for the tribal communities living in the interiors of Wayanad Sanctuary in Kerala. The sanctuary makes a rich habitat to bamboo groves, where many small tribal communities still bide. Harvesting and collecting this rice is their source of income as well as their daily food intake. You will find women and children from these indigenous communities in the region collecting and selling these seeds.

The Process of Storing Bamboo Rice

Given the unpredictable flowering and thorniness of the bamboo, this makes no easy rice harvest. To get perfect polished bamboo rice, the area around the base of each bamboo is cleaned and all the debris formed is removed. The base is then smoothed with a slush of clay and kept to dry. Once dried, the bamboo rice is then stored in to the prepared surface and gathered to be consumed.
 

 

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How is it Different from Other Types of Rice?

Bamboo rice has a striking resemblance to paddy rice and tastes more like wheat. Slightly sweet in taste and generally cooked like any other rice, bamboo rice makes a great combination with any normal food that we consume. The difference lies in its texture when cooked, which is mostly moist and sticky. It is chewy when consumed. It is prepared as Khichdion the occasion of Pongal and many love to prepare bamboo rice kheer to savor on celebratory events. You can also consume it with normal dal and other Indian curries.

Bamboo Rice-Healthy or Not?

Bamboo rice like any other rice is rich in various nutrients including carbohydrates, fiber and protein. It is believed that bamboo rice has low glycemic index compared to other varieties of rice, which is considered to be a healthier option for diabetics. The rice has low or no fat and is rich in vitamin B. The tribes in Kerala use this rice to cure joint pain owing to the presence of immense calcium and phosphorus content.
 

 

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Bamboo rice may not be very popular in the India, but considering its origination and benefits, looks like it may soon become a staple across the country and add to the list of other varieties of rice.