Karanee is a short to medium grained non-aromatic rice that is used extensively by the tribals in the Western Odisha/Chattisgarh/Jharkhand belt. It is characterized by a greyish black husk that sports a relatively short awn. The bran is pink to light red in color. This rice is well suited for upland regions and thrives in areas having scant rainfall. It is generally sown by broadcasting in the beginning of June-July and harvested by September-October.
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Description
THE CULTURAL & ECOLOGICAL LIFE OF THIS RICE
Karanee is one of the rice varieties that is renowned for its use in traditional or folk remedies prevalent in the Odisha/Chattisgarh/Jharkhand region. The Gonds and Oraons are some of the prominent tribal groups that cultivate and use this rice.
Karani is prized for its use in preparing the traditional tribal drink Handia. Handia, also called Hadia, is a fermented rice drink that is prepared by cooking, draining, drying and then mixing up the rice with Ranu/Bakhar (yeast mixed with medicinal herbs) tablets. It is believed to be energizing and beneficial to the body, and is an important part of every religious ritual.
Starch evaluation of Karani has shown it to possess a high amylose content. Such rice varieties take longer to get digested, release sugar into the bloodstream in a controlled manner and hence are beneficial to diabetics in general. However, the effect on sugar levels is dependent on additional factors like the overall quantity and quality of the meal.
Other names for this rice: Karani, Karhani, Karheni
NUTRITIONAL AND MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
- Karani rice contains iron and zinc in good measure.
- As per traditional knowledge, this medicinal rice is beneficial for all kinds of digestive and urinary tract problems.
- Patients suffering from jaundice, epilepsy and even paralysis are prescribed this rice by the local medicine men.
- In general, it is given to all kind of convalescent patients for strength & faster recovery.
- The husk of this rice is burnt to make the soot for preparing kajal which is believed to have beneficial effect on the eyes.
- In the recent years, this rice has gain popularity with the general population for reasons varying from weak digestion, chronic acidity and any kind of gastric problems.
CULINARY USES
- It is usually available in the parboiled form for consumption as a table rice.
- The ‘pej’ (excess water drained out after cooking rice in the open pan method) from this rice is considered highly nutritious and is consumed as an energizer.
- One of the prominent uses of this rice is in the preparation of Handia, the local rice beer sold by the tribals in these parts.
WHO GROWS THIS RICE & WHERE CAN I BUY?
- Karanee is available in the tribal markets after the harvest and in the annual fairs like Adivasi Mela organised by Odisha government.
SOURCES & FURTHER READING
- Basri, Fauziya, Hanuman Prasad Sharma, Paras Jain. “Grain Quality and Starch Evaluation of Local Varieties Of Rice (Growing In Jharkhand State, India).” International Journal of Current Research 7(1): 11895-11900, 2015
- Das, G.K. and P. Qudhia. “Rice As Medicinal Plant In Chhatisgarh (India): A Survey.” Agric. Sci. Digest 21 (3): 204- 205, 2001
- Satyapal Singh, Deepak Sharma, JC Rana, Sudhir Ahlawat. Study of crop diversity and seed system in tribal Northern Hilly region of Chhattisgarh. International Journal of Botany Studies 6(1):329-339, 2021
- Rahman, Shakeelur., Sharma, MP & Sahai, Suman (2006). “Nutritional and medicinal values of some indigenous rice varieties.” Indian journal of Traditional knowledge, 5 (4): 454-458
- Sinha, Himadri. “Rediscovering the traditional Paddy varieties in Jharkhand: Conservation Priority in hybrid Rice Era.” Journal of Rural Development, Vol. 35 No. (2) pp. 285-307.
Additional information
| Region of Origin | East, North |
|---|---|
| Grain Shape | short bold |
| Grain Colour | Pinkish |
| Fragrance | Nonscented |
