About Black Rice: Black Rice Nutrients and Easy Way to Cook Black Rice

About Black Rice: Black Rice Nutrients and Easy Way to Cook Black Rice

Black rice is said to be derived from China. It also called as purple black rice and purple rice.

When you cook black rice, it has a dark color like red rice’s color. Although we may not see black rice that much in our dining table, black rice has drawn much attention in recent years because of its nutrients.

This is an article where we talk more about black rice’s nutrients. There also information about easy way to cook black rice.

About Black Rice

Black rice is one type of pure breed rice, the ancient grain of rice. Black rice was discovered during the Chinese Han period and cherishes by the emperor as the rice with the ancient scent that brings longevity.

Due to its unique color (black in the outside, and white in the inside), black rice also called purple black rice and purple rice. Black rice is very expensive rice because the production rate is low and it takes more time for threshing the rice.

In Japan, black rice is known to be used for offerings and celebrations for Gods (Kamis) since a long time ago. It has been said to be the root of rice.

Because of its nourishment and tonic effect,
black rice also called as the “Rice Medicine” in China, and it has been used as a nutritional food for people with weak physical condition and for recovery.

Compared to white rice, black rice have protein, niacin and vitamins (B1, B2, E). Black rice also filled with wide range of nutrients such as iron, calcium and other minerals. In addition, black rice contains anthocyanin, a type of polyphenol that is a natural pigment of the purple color in black rice.

Furthermore, black rice is said to prevent arteriosclerosis, have an antiaging effect, suppression of cancer and nourishment. It is said that black rice have various effect such as strengthening the gastrointestinal tract and do the hematopoiesis action.

You can eat the cooked nutritious black rice just by mixing about 3 tablespoons of black rice with 3 cups of white rice and cook it together. It is fun to eat because it has crunchy texture and a chewy texture. It can be enjoyed deliciously from children to elderly people.

The Origin of Black Rice

It is believed that black rice has been transmitted to Japan from China during the Yayoi period. It is not clear if the black rice has been passed for food or medicinal purposes (such as Chinese medicine), but it seems that “black rice” was written in old Japanese literature.

In China, since ancient times, black rice has been positioned as a high-class food to be offered to the emperor as longevity rice.

Even you do not see black rice so often at Japanese dishes, but it still cultivated and popular in Asian countries.

Black Rice: Rice with a Chewy Texture

Most people usually eat and cook the mix of black rice with white rice. Each grains are firm, and you can enjoy the chewy and crunchy texture of the black rice.

It is said that chewy-textured rice is very easy-to-eat for Japanese people because Japan have lots of chewy-textured food.

Black Rice also loved by Yang Guifei

“Yang Guifei” was known as one of the three major beauty in the world, or in Asia: one of the Four Beauties of Ancient China. She was said to loved black rice as a health and beauty food. It is surprising that black rice has been used for over 1,500 years to maintain health and beauty.

Nutritional Components and Effects of Black Rice

Compared to white rice, black rice has a wide range of nutrients such as proteins, niacin, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin E, irons, calcium, and other minerals. Black rice also have good texture. You can easily incorporate your daily meals with black rice by mix it together with white rice.

Here are some nutrients and effects of black rice:

No. 1 Eye Fatigue Recovery Effects from Anthocyanins

One of the polyphenols “anthocyanins” that usually contained in blueberries etc. is also abundantly contained in black rice.

  

Strong antioxidants effect caused by anthocyanins are clarified in recent Animal Pathology research. This anthocyanins are said to reduce the “Oxidative Stress” caused by aging and ultraviolet light. This is the effect we can get to cure glaucoma.

No. 2 Mantaining Health with Vitamin B1

Beriberi, which was once referred to as Japan’s national disease, was caused by a deficiency of vitamin B1.

  

In recent years, beriberi disease caused by the increase of consuming instant food. In addition to the prevention of beriberi, black rice is good to make our body doesn’t get tired easily because it has the effect of converting carbohydrates into energy.

No. 3 Anti-Aging Effect from Vitamin E

Vitamin E is said to have the effect of maintaining the health of the blood vessels. Vitamin E is also known to have th effect to suppress the oxidation of cholesterol in the blood and to prevent the destruction of red blood cells.

  

It is said to be effective in preventing aging as it prevents cell oxidation.

No. 4 Efficient Intake of Essential Amino Acids

Black rice contains abundant content of essential amino acids that can not be made in the body.

  

Amino acid itself is expected to improve the gastrointestinal condition, improve frailty of our body, and function as a hematopoietic agent.

  

Black rice has been used since ancient times for medicinal dishes and so on, so it can be said to be a traditional healthy food.

Difference Between Black Rice and White Rice

Picture above shows the content comparison of Pottasium, Vitamin B2, Magnesium, Dietary Fiber, and Niacin between white, brown, and black rice.
White rice is shown with green line, brown rice is with yellow line, and black rice is with red line.

If we compare the nutritional black rice to white rice, black rice’s calories are 10 kcal lower than white rice, black rice also has 5 times more Vitamin B1, 1.5 times more protein, 4 times more Vitamin B2 and than white rice.

In addition, black rice has 6 times more dietary fiber, 2 times more calcium, and 9 times more niacin than white rice. There is an overwhelming difference between these 2 types of rice.

Black rice is very rich in nutrients, but only has few calories. So it is recommended for those who are in a diet.

How to Cook Black Rice Deliciously (Video)

You can easily cook black rice with your home rice cooker. By cooking it with white rice, please enjoy the chewy texture of the rice that may differet from your usual rice.

Explanation of “How to Cook Black Rice Deliciously”

These are the steps for making black rice with home rice cooker.

Black Rice Amazake Recipe

Black Rice Amazake Recipe

It is Amazake (sweet sake) recipe that have the texture of black rice remains. Amazake are very good to mantain health, too.

5 from 1 vote

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Cook Time 6 hours hrs

Servings 2

Equipment

• Bowl
• Container (fermentor/yogurt maker)

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 cup (about 150 g) Cooked Black Rice
• 100 g Rice Koji
• 200 cc Water

Instructions

 

• Put cooked black rice and water in a large bowl and mix. The amount of water is just enough for the rice to soak.
• Put 100 g of rice koji to the mixture in step 1, stir well. Add more water to make it warm.
• Put in a container (fermentor or yogurt maker) and set the settings. Incubate at 55-60 ° C for 6-8 hours.
• When the texture is gloopy and have sweet flavor, the black rice amazake is ready to serve.

Notes

You can cook the amazake using the mix of cooked black rice with brown rice, too.

The nutrition of brown rice is the same, and the fermentation power from rice koji will boost the nutrients.
It is sweet and easy to drink.

Keyword Amazake

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