Lotus Foods Heirloom Forbidden Rice, 15-Ounce (Pack of 6)

Best true black rice I've had. Not purple. Not brown. Tasty.

Interesting flavor compared to white rice. Has a mild nutty taste, a firmer texture. Enjoyable and different.

First off, black rice is a great alternative to the more starchy brown, white, red rices. It has a mild flavor and great texture (never mushy) and is cooked the usual way in your regular rice cooker. But I wanted to add how beautiful it is plated and elevates almost any dish! I bought the six pack after my first pack and use it in every dish that could use some rice.

I first bought this rice at my local safeway several months ago, and when I tasted it, I pretty much fell in love with it. After I bought it twice from safeway, I decided to order the 6 pack from lotus food, twice! Since I first tasted this rice last spring, I haven't gotten back to eating brown rice since, though I am craving for it now. The rice takes a little longer to cook than white rice, but not a whole lot. It usually takes only about 30 minutes when I use my rice cooker. Besides the unique nutty taste and color, the earthy smell of the rice that comes out the rice cooker just makes it even more pleasant to experience this rice. Compared to brown and white rice, it's definitely more expensive (3.5 to 8X more), and some may seem it as a "novelty." But like any other rice, it certainly lasts a while when you go bulk with the six pack or 11 or 22 pounds, and it's not so expensive that you would break the bank. I highly recommend everyone to try this rice at least once though just for the experience, and go from them after. And if the studies about this type of rice being arguably the healthiest rice due to having a high amount of antioxidants, perhaps its worth it.

The taste of this rice is wonderful. I just think it could be a little cheaper though. I wish it was for sale around here. So, I wouldn't have to order it online. I just don't know about the quality of things ordered online. When it comes to food. So many people can tamper with it by the time it gets to you.