Mapillai Samba or “Bride Groom Rice” is a native variety of rice, which is red in colour and is grown predominantly in Tamil Nadu. It's well suited to organic farming because it is hardy and demands little or no fertilisers or pesticides. It is a 160 days crop. Unfortunately, along with other native varieties of rice, mapillai samba has all but disappeared from our farms and markets, making way instead for highly processed, nutritionally inferior white rice. Very few passionate traditional farmers still grow such rice now. This rice comes from Thiruvannamalai in Tamilnadu.

BENIFITS

• The high fibre content present in the rice eases digestion.
  
• The vitamin B1 present in the rice aids in healing stomach and mouth ulcers.
  
• Improves immunity and stamina
  
• Strengthens muscles and nerves
  
• Makes the blood flow faster so that our body gets instant energy
• Increases hemoglobin content
  
• Good for diabetics since it is has a low Glycemic Index.
• Little ones will achieve better growth.
  

COOKERY

• It can be cooked as rice, or made as Idli, Dosa, upma, pongal etc.  
  
• How to prepare a gluten free mapillai samba rice 
• Rinse the rice in water & soak it for 90 minutes.
  
• Keep a pot shaped vessel on the stove add water (qty should be 3 times of the rice) and let it boil. 
• Add washed and soaked rice to boiling water, keep the stove in slow speed.
• Optional - Add a pinch of salt
• When it has almost absorbed all the water, check whether the rice is cooked, if not add little quantity of water.
• Repeat step 5 of adding little quantity of water untill the rice is cooked. Usually it takes about 30 to 45 minutes for Mapillai samba rice to be cooked well, there will be some water still left over with the rice.
• Drain the remaining water in a separate vessel, that's your Gruel - morning energy drink Mapillai samba's Gruel is so unique - known to provide high energy, a proven cure for ulcers, traditionally given to new mothers to regain strength