Bamboo rice is one of those rare rices which is actually not paddy! It is not harvested like other rice varieties. It mostly grows in the wild and are seeds of a dying Bamboo shoot. Bamboo is a perennial grass that flowers once in its lifetime while bamboo shoots can be harvested after two years of planting it. Usually the lifetime of the bamboo plant is from 40 to 100yrs. When it reaches its end, the shoot blossoms and forms seeds which are harvested as Bamboo rice. The collection and selling of these seeds and bamboo shoots are an excellent economic proposition for the local tribals.

For many of us Rice always meant polished white rice! Growing up, this is what was cooked and served to us day in and day out. It was an accompaniment to many a delicious assortment of curries, sambar or rasam. This main course of carbohydrate, as tasty as it is, does not bode well for the overall health and well being of those who consume it. The polishing process strips off the nutrients hidden in the outer surface of the rice kernels, leaving us with mere carb-loaded grains.