Introducing The Real Basmati Rice Company
At the recent Speciality and Fine Foods Fair at Olympia we met Shahid Medhi, founder of The Real Basmati Rice Co. who presented us with a simple brown bag containing Basmati rice.
Since our regular choice of rice is Tilda Basmati we were intrigued to find out how this 'new' rice would differ so set out to test it in a straight comparison. Pairing the rice with a Flavours of India Kadhai cooking sauce and some chicken breast we created a curry within 30 minutes, on the table and ready to eat.
We cooked a half and half selection of Tilda rice together with our bag of rice from The Real Basmati Rice Co before setting to work on taste-testing the difference. On the whole, both rices cooked as well as each other, presenting free-flowing grains when cooked - yet taste-wise, the rice from The real Basmati Company had an edge that we did not expect; a little touch to the flavour that the Tilda didn't have - and it complimented the Flavours of India sauce perfectly.
A winning combination for us and certainly one we would consider again given that it is single-source, with added traceability offered by the company.
The Real Basmati Rice Co
Great taste is the overriding priority of The Real Basmati Rice Co and is achieved by sourcing the most exquisite rice direct from single estate farms. Ageing the rice for at least twelve months gives it a more aromatic taste, at the same time ensuring the grains do not stick together when cooked.
Founder, Shahid, turns the farmers he works with into friends and shares their passion of using traditional methods to make sure things are done the right way.
One of the farms The Real Basmati Rice Co. works with is based in the Punjab region in Pakistan. Located between two rivers, Jhelum and Chenab, the area boasts ideal conditions for rice farming.
After travelling the area extensively, Shahid knew he had stumbled across something special, "It was like stepping back in time - where traditional and sustainable farming methods are still combined with obsessive care, dedication and passion".
Today, Shahid sources rice direct from Aslam Farm in the Punjab. Aslam is a family estate where all members live, work, eat and do everything together, a true labour of love.
Once harvested, farmers lay the rice reeds in the sun for two weeks to help it dry. The reeds are then beaten by hand to separate the grains from the shells and the husks are removed.
Once this process is complete, the rice is bagged in jute sacks and placed in large rice stores away from the elements to age and mature.
After a minimum of 12 months drying time to bring out the delicious flavour and texture of the rice, each grain is polished before being packed by hand and put on a slow boat to the UK.
RRP £3.95 for a 1kg bag. Available to purchase online via Amazon.co.uk
www.therealbasmatirice.com
All packaging is made from 100% recycled material and a sticker on the front of the pack reveals which farm the single sourced rice is from.