Forbidden Rice

A medium-grain variety of rice from China that has a covering of black bran. When cooked, the rice has a distinctive nutty flavor, a slightly chewy texture, and the color becomes dark purple. Forbidden rice, also known as Emperor’s rice, is so named because at one time it was the exclusive rice of the Chinese emperors. The rice is also marketed under the names Chinese Black Rice or China Black Rice. Forbidden rice is available in well-stocked food stores, specialty shops, Asian markets, and through mail order.