Kalanamak Rice, A Gift by Sujanta Roy
People all over the world consume rice in some form or the other, a crop that has so much variety when it comes to its length, aroma, nutrition content, availability and price. One such variety, Kalanamak rice, was recently awarded The Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2021. Also known as Black Pearl Rice or Buddha Rice, it is made up of two words, Kala meaning black and Namak, meaning salt. Buddha Rice is said to have originated in a small village called Siddarthnagar, a remote district of Uttar Pradesh, standing on the India-Nepal border and is famous as the home of the Buddha. It cultivates this fine, short-grain rice that has an unusual salty black husk. This particular variety is said to have been Buddha’s gift to the locals as a blessing. After it received the Geographical Tag(GI) in 2013, it began to be grown in other parts of the state too, such as Gonda, Sant Kabir Nagar, Maharajganj, Basti and Gorakhpur and also in the north-eastern states of India.
Buddha’s Rice for a reason :
When compared to other varieties Kalanamak grows around 4-5 feet tall which is comparatively taller and has many nutritional benefits. It is high in micronutrient content such as zinc and iron, has 11 per cent protein(double of normal rice), is suitable for diabetics with a low glycemic index of 49% to 52%, and is rich in anthocyanins that lower the risk of colorectal cancer. It is also said to contain antioxidants that help manage heart health, keep the skin healthy, and regulate blood pressure. Rich micronutrients also help prevent zinc and iron deficiency-related diseases like Alzheimer’s.
A treat for the foodie in you :
Though historians believe that it is difficult to cultivate and is hence expensive, huge demand and distribution have made it affordable and easily obtainable. Farmers have also gained from the extensive yield of this variety which was once called the ‘emperor’s rice’ due to its limited harvest. Perhaps, when one does come across a bag of Kalanamak rice, getting it home and trying out recipes that call for sweet fragrant flavour in every morsel will be a delight!
