Kalanamak Rice
Oryza sativa
Also known as: Black-Eared Rice · Siddharth Nagar Rice · Budhhist Rice
A near-endangered heritage rice from the Terai, linked to Buddhist monks and carrying the unique fragrance of jasmine.
Protein
9–11 g/100g
Glycemic Index
49–52
GI Tag
2013
Status
Near-endangered, revived
About
What is Kalanamak Rice?
Kalanamak is one of the most distinctive rice varieties in India — a thin-grained, aromatic rice with a black husk (kala = black, namak = salt) and a fragrance often compared to pandanus and jasmine. Cultivated in the Terai belt of eastern Uttar Pradesh, it is historically linked to Buddhist monastery gardens near Kapilvastu (present-day Siddharth Nagar). The variety was once near-extinction; concerted efforts by ICAR and Navdanya have revived its cultivation across 25,000+ acres. Its protein content of 9–11g/100g is high for rice, and its GI of 49–52 makes it suitable for diabetic diets.
Key Compound
2-Acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP)
The primary aroma compound — the same molecule responsible for the fragrance of Basmati and jasmine rice. Found at elevated concentrations in Kalanamak, producing its distinctive scent.
Nutritional Profile
What’s inside?
Health Applications
Why it matters
Diabetes management
GI of 49–52 is suitable for diabetics; lower than most aromatic varieties including Basmati.
Protein nutrition
Higher protein (9–11g) than most Indian rice varieties supports satiety and muscle maintenance.
Ancient Wisdom
In Ayurveda
Dosha Effect
Tridosha balancing
Guna (Quality)
Laghu (light), Madhura (sweet)
Best Season
Year-round, excellent in Sharad (autumn)
Classical Note
Classical texts mention Kalama rice as one of the prized varieties. Easy to digest with a calming effect attributed to its aromatic compounds.
Origin Story
From the field
Siddharth Nagar, Uttar Pradesh · Northern India (Terai region)
Kalanamak is inseparably linked to the land around Kapilvastu — the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. Local tradition holds that Buddha himself carried Kalanamak seeds as he travelled, distributing them to farming villages. By the 1970s, the variety had nearly vanished under Green Revolution pressure to grow high-yield hybrids. Dr. R.H. Richharia (former ICAR director) personally documented 17,000+ rice varieties before his archives were controversially dismantled. Kalanamak seeds survived in the collections he protected. Today, farmer cooperatives in Siddharth Nagar grow Kalanamak under PKVY certification, earning ₹80–120/kg vs ₹22/kg for commodity rice.
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Related ingredients
There are 23 ingredients in the Field Guide.