Black rice — also known as forbidden rice — originates from China, where legend has it that the grain was cultivated exclusively for the emperor and his court, prized for its nutritional properties and reserved as a luxury that ordinary citizens were not permitted to eat. Today it is grown successfully in the Po Valley of northern Italy, where Cascina Belvedere cultivates it organically alongside their arborio and carnaroli varieties.

Nero rice is a wholemeal grain, meaning it retains its bran layer and with it a firm, chewy texture and a depth of flavour that polished white rices cannot offer. During cooking it releases a distinctive aroma that sits somewhere between sandalwood and freshly baked bread — earthy, nutty, and unlike any other rice variety. The deep black colour holds well after cooking, fading to a dark purple, which makes it one of the most visually striking ingredients you can put on a plate. It works as a side dish for meat and fish, dressed simply with olive oil or butter, and is equally at home in rice salads, grain bowls, and stuffed vegetables where its colour and texture add contrast and substance.

Producer: Cascina Belvedere, a family-run organic rice farm in Bianzé, province of Vercelli, Piedmont. The Picco family has been cultivating rice here since 1935, controlling every stage of production from seed to packaging. Certified organic (IT-BIO-004).

Storage: Ambient. Store in a cool, dry place.

Net: 500g