Carolina Gold Rice
Often dubbed the world’s greatest rice, Carolina Gold is a variety of long-grain rice that’s been traditionally cultivated in the US for centuries. This rice variety has been renowned for its clean, sweet flavor, the subtle nuttiness and earthiness, and the firm and chewy texture of the cooked grains.
Another distinguishing trait is the gleaming gold hue of the mature rice plant and the hulls that surround the pearly white grains. Owing to its unique starch properties and the delicate structure of the grains, this rice is incredibly versatile and suitable for various types of cooking methods.
Although there are many theories as to how it reached the coastal lands of Charleston, South Carolina, the rice most likely came via Africa, either from West Africa or Madagascar, around 1685. Initially grown in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, over the years, the rice had become the first commercial rice produced in the country, and it began to be exported in large quantities to countries in Europe and Asia. Read more
Traditional specialties such as purloo, chicken bogs, jambalaya, or hoppin’ John were once unimaginable without Carolina Gold rice. What once used to be a staple crop and the most popular rice variety cultivated in America, was unfortunately brought to the verge of extinction due to a series of events, including the Civil War, two disastrous hurricanes, the Great Depression of 1929, the introduction of new rice varieties, and industrialization.
Luckily, the 1980s have witnessed the beginning of the restoration process of the beloved heirloom rice thanks to Dr. Richard Schulz and the establishment of the Carolina Gold Rice Foundation, an organization that promotes the growth and quality of this precious rice.
