Polished white rice is so widely consumed these days. White rice is a major contributing factor to diabetes and the depletion of our water table. By eating traditional grains, that do not require excessive irrigation and have high medicinal and nutritional values, is a simple first step on your Road Back to Nature.

There are many varieties of red rice.The variety that is grown in Auroville is called Poovam Sambhar. This is an ancient rice native to Tamil Nadu. Red rice has miraculous health benefits. Consuming red rice can lower blood glucose, improve bone and skin health. Red rice is a great source of fibre, which means it also aids digestion.

Cooking the rice is so simple.

• Rinse the rice well in water.
• Let the rice soak in water for 20-30 minutes.
• Once soaked, add the rice to a pot with 3 glasses of water for every 1 cup of rice, and let it boil on medium heat until cooked.
• Once cooked, the rice should be soft.

This rice has a very nutty taste and should be tasted on its own. This rice is ideal for diabetics and as it is a semi-dryland rice, it uses less water to grow, and is therefore a sustainable alternative to white rice.