The above packages of wild rice which are "100% Naturally Grown on Lakes and Rivers" in Minnesota are sold at the St. Paul Farmers' Market. There are other outlets for this grain, which is a highly prized gourmet delight, sold throughout the Twin Cities. If you're smart, you'll pass up the cultivated wild rice and get one of these packages instead.
"This water-loving grass produces a nutty-flavored seed that is eaten by humans and waterfowl. Once found throughout Minnesota, it has been an important part of the lives and culture of American Indians who have lived in the Great Lakes region long before the arrival of European immigrants. Today it is Minnesota's official state grain.
Wild rice is an annual plant, meaning that it dies in the fall. Seeds that fell in autumn take root in spring under water, and then the shoot grows to above the surface. Starting in late August, the seeds ripen gradually from the top down and fall into the water. Because it is an annual, people who harvest the plant in the wild let some seeds fall into the water so wild rice populations can survive." (Credit: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)
IMPORTANT
How To Tell The Difference Between Real Indian Wild Rice and The Fake Stuff!
Authentic northern lakes wild rice is thinner then the commercially grown paddy wild rice and can be a light gray to an almost light green in color. It is not tough but very tender and has a very natural tasty nutty like flavor and only takes about 20 minutes to cook. The real Indian Wild Lake Rice cannot be grown in paddies. True Indian Rice only thrives in these cold crystal clear northern spring fed rivers and lakes of the Great Lakes region that was home to the Chippewa Indians. Real Indian Wild rice is sensitive and will not grow in stagnant waters.
 REAL HAND HARVESTEDINDIAN WILD RICE |  PATTY GROWNCOMMERCIAL RIC |
Credit: http://www.indianwildrice.com/
Wild Rice harvesting on reservation land is strictly controlled; to see photos of an authentic harvesting, click here.To see more ABC Wednesday post, click here.
Gosh what a difference in the colours of the two rices. I've never cooked wild rice, only brown rice, which I eat often.
ReplyDeleteI happen to love rice, this looks delicious, it's gotten to the point where I can't even bring myself to eat white rice, I recently got some black rice at a farmer's market and it was delicious. I may have to get some of this real wild rice. thanks for the info about it.
ReplyDeleteWell, this is a fascinating and well-done post! I'm sure I've eated the wild rice when living up that way but at the time didn't care much about the differences. Very interesting and informative!
ReplyDeleteI love this stuff!
ReplyDeleteI love wild rice! When I was in Jackson, we got bags of it from one of our agents in Minnesota every Christmas. I don't know if it was "authentic" but it was tasty!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds delicious. Thanks for all of the information!
ReplyDeleteI am not so fond of rice, but I am always willing to learn something new about food and this is very interesting...
ReplyDeleteI like wild rice very much. I'll be watching to make sure I get the genuine wild rise. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat info on this rice! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteBest wild rice I ever ate...Interesting post.
ReplyDeleteInteresting and very informative post. Nice photos too.
ReplyDeleteI've only seen the commercial stuff. Very informative.
ReplyDeleteROG, ABC Wednesday team
I really like the taste of wild rice. People in Japan got kind of freaked out when I gave them some.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post. I remember seeing a tv programme of people out in canoes and knocking rice off the plants, but I haven't tasted any, at least not yet.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post, Kate. I don't know much about rice and there are plenty of rice fields in Portugal, although they are not as beautiful as all I've seen in SE Asia.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite kind of rice!
ReplyDeleteNostalgic, is one of my ABC entries. Come by any time you get a chance. Have a great day!
Kate thanks for the information and how to tell the difference between the truly wild and the commercially wild.
ReplyDeleteHelenMac
ABC Wednesday Team
Well, this is news to me! And I was feeling I had the "real" thing with the commercial stuff! You can really see the difference with the side-by-side pictures. I don't know if I've ever seen the real deal. . .not even sure if it's available on the west coast. Hmmmmmm. . . .
ReplyDeleteThis was REALLY neat and interesting. I so believe in farmers markets! Wish yours was closer to me!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information. I didn't realize there was a difference. I think I would enjoy the flavor of the Real Wild rice far more than the other.
ReplyDeletewhat a difference in the two - great post
ReplyDelete