How we pick our products
Welcome to our big red rice test 2023. Here we present all the red rice varieties we have tested in detail. We have compiled detailed background information and added a summary of customer reviews on the internet.
We would like to make your purchase decision easier and help you find the best red rice for you.
You will also find answers to frequently asked questions in our guide. If available, we also offer interesting test videos. Furthermore, you will also find some important information on this page that you should be aware of if you want to buy red rice.
Summary
- Red brown rice is a whole grain rice variety that is particularly rich in nutrients. This is because it is not de-husked to retain the red colour and vitamins in the skin of the grain.
- Red rice is an unprocessed rice that retains all its valuable vitamins and nutrients contained in the husk.
- With its earthy, nutty flavour, red rice is a speciality among rice varieties, and its colour also makes it a great eye-catcher in many dishes.
The best Red Rice: Our Picks
Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying Red Rice
What is red rice?
Depending on the variety, the grain is either discoloured on the inside and outside or is actually white and only the outer skin contains the reddish colour, which does not penetrate to the inside.
A speciality is red Camargue rice, which gets its red colour from the red clay in which it grows.
Compared to white rice, red rice is not dehusked, which means it retains its outer skin.
This usually makes it an untreated natural rice, which thus not only retains its red colour, but also all the important minerals and vitamins contained in the husk.
There is an important difference between red brown rice, which this article is about, and red fermented rice. This distinction often leads to confusion when looking for red rice.
Red fermented rice is a special Chinese preparation of white rice.
A mould is added to the rice and only through fermentation does it develop a reddish colour and a cholesterol-lowering ingredient.
However, this red rice has nothing to do with the food presented here.
What distinguishes red rice from white rice?
With red rice, the skin and hull are left intact, making it more nutritious and tasty.
To illustrate the difference, we have summarised the advantages and disadvantages of white rice for you below.
All the disadvantages of white rice do not apply to red rice. Red rice is accordingly healthier than white rice.
It is therefore worthwhile for you to try out the rarer red rice!
Where does red rice come from?
- Philippine red mountain rice: This red rice variety grows in the jungle in the south of the Philippines and is naturally red in colour both inside and out.
- Thai red brown rice: This is also known as “Red Cargo Rice” and is a long grain rice whose husk is red.
- Bhutan red rice: This red rice variety also has a red husk and a white grain. It is grown in the high mountainous region of the Himalayas.
- Indian raktashali rice: This rice variety is known for its use in Ayurvedic healing practices and originates from India.
- Indian matta rice: Indian matta rice is very similar to raktashali rice and is grown in the Karnataka region of India.
- Camargue rice: Originally from India, this rice variety is now primarily grown in France in the Camargue region. As mentioned in the introduction, this rice variety gets its red colour from the clayey, red soil in which it grows. Therefore, only the husk of the grain is coloured.
Red rice is a comparatively rarely cultivated and occurring rice variety. Camargue rice, which is cultivated in Europe, requires red clay for cultivation, which limits the cultivation possibilities.
This is why red rice often comes from the Philippines, India or Bhutan.
What healthy nutrients are in red rice?
Red rice retains its so-called “silver skin”, which preserves the nutrients contained in it in the best possible way and thus preserves them for consumption.
Red rice therefore contains more vitamins and satiating fibre, which stimulates your digestion.
Red rice in particular is rich in vitamins A, B, D, E and F. It also contains important minerals such as amino acids, iron, potassium, magnesium and zinc.
This makes red rice a very healthy food. Potassium, for example, is good for you if you suffer from high blood pressure.
Magnesium helps you with lack of concentration and if you suffer from iron deficiency, red rice can help to raise your iron levels naturally.
Nutrition table for 100g Camargue rice
The protein contained in rice contains important amino acids that the body cannot produce on its own.
If you exercise and want to build muscle, the increased protein content in red rice is also relevant for you.
The higher fat content of red rice should not worry you – these are unsaturated fatty acids that are good for your body and regulate your cholesterol level.
The largest component of red rice, the carbohydrates, are complex carbohydrates. These are broken down slowly and therefore do not affect your insulin levels.
| calorific value | 351 kcal |
|---|---|
| fat | 2.8g |
| carbohydrates | 71.8g |
| fibre | 3.8g |
| protein | 7.8g |
What does red rice taste like?
In addition, as whole-grain rice, it tastes naturally stronger than white rice. Another characteristic of red rice is that it is firm to the bite after cooking.
Tip: Red rice tastes particularly good when you prepare it in combination with strong, spicy dishes such as meat or fish.
How much does red rice cost?
Even though red rice is even grown in Europe – the required clay is only available in limited quantities.
Moreover, some varieties of red rice are harvested only once a year. This makes the price skyrocket accordingly.
Depending on the origin and quality of the rice, the prices also vary. You can buy a kilogram of red rice from 2.50€. However, the price for a kilogram can also be up to 12€.
Are there alternatives to red rice?
If you are concerned about the health aspect, you should go for natural whole-grain rice.
This usually contains similar minerals and vitamins as red rice, as it has not been dehusked and the grain still contains the silverskin.
In the following table, we have selected three alternatives that are all similarly rich in nutrients as red rice and are also colourful eye-catchers.
| Alternative | properties |
|---|---|
| Black rice | naturally black, nutty flavour, unhusked whole grain rice, many minerals and vitamins |
| Purple rice | purple whole grain, nutty-sweet flavour, rich in nutrients and fibre, many antioxidants |
| Red jasmine rice | naturally red colour, flowery-sweet flavour, whole grain rice, no saturated fatty acids |
If you prefer to eat regular white rice, you also have a wide choice here. Besides basmati or jasmine rice, there is also parboiled rice. Due to its special processing, this rice also contains many vitamins and minerals.
Buying Criteria: These are the Factors you can use to compare and evaluate Red Rice
In the following, we will show you which aspects you can use to decide between the many different types of red rice.
The criteria you can use to compare red rice include:
Origin
As mentioned in the guide, there are different growing regions for red rice. It is primarily grown in Southeast Asia: It comes from the Philippines, Thailand, Bhutan or India.
Only the so-called Camargue rice is grown in France, and thus in Europe. The origin of red rice does not make much difference in terms of taste.
Due to its limited availability, red Camargue rice is considered a special delicacy. It is therefore also used in many gourmet restaurants.
One advantage of this red rice variety is that it comes from France and therefore has no further transport route behind it. So if you care about the environment and sustainability, this variety might be interesting for you.
Organic quality
When it comes to rice, it is generally very important to look for organic quality. Since rice cultivation, especially in Asia, is highly industrialised, it is designed to deliver as much yield as quickly as possible.
This means that many harmful pesticides and fertilisers are used to grow the rice. As a result, the soils of the cultivation areas are often contaminated with heavy metals and chemical pollutants.
Organic cultivation eliminates the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
Therefore, organic rice is much less contaminated with heavy metals or other pollutants.
The red Camargue rice is grown exclusively organically, as this is a legal requirement in this growing region.
Fairtrade certification
When it comes to rice in particular, it pays to look for Fairtrade certification. This seal means that farmers are allowed to work under fair trade and working conditions.
They are then paid fairly and safety and health standards are met. It also includes equal pay for women.
This is particularly relevant for the Asian countries of origin of red rice, as these standards are not a matter of course there.
Due to the health standards, Fairtrade cultivation automatically avoids the use of pesticides that are harmful to health. Organic and Fairtrade thus often go hand in hand and it is worthwhile to pay attention to this when buying.
Facts worth knowing about Red Rice
How is red rice dosed and prepared?
You should wash red rice twice before use to get rid of fat residues and excess starch. Then you should soak it for ten minutes.
Then you can cook it normally for 35 to 40 minutes with the lid closed. It is best to use 2.5 times the amount of water.
Of course, you can also cook red rice in a rice cooker.
Can red rice be harmful?
The red rice presented here cannot be harmful to health. Don’t be irritated by sites that claim the opposite.
We are talking about fermented red rice, which can be relevant for your health due to its cholesterol-lowering effect.
Thus, it and the food supplements made from it, such as red fermented rice capsules, can cause side effects. So you don’t have to take anything else into account when cooking red brown rice.
What dishes is red rice suitable for?
You can use red rice for any rice dish you like.
It is especially tasty with spicy meat and fish dishes, but it also tastes great with vegetable curries. Just try out what red rice tastes best with!
Tip: Red rice not only stands out from other types of rice in terms of taste, it also makes a great colourful accent in salads or risotto, for example!
Image source: 123rf.com / 112158163
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