Americans have sung about amber waves of grain for years, but soon, they might have to add more colors to that ode, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service releases newly developed purple and red varieties of rice. In addition to being beautiful, the novel grains pack a nutritional punch, and offer farmers a distinct new opportunity. The latest addition is a purple variety, named “USDA-Tiara.”
Researchers develop new rice grains
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New U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service-developed varieties of rice sport purple, left, and red, right, outer layers, or bran. The colorful varieties offer consumers improved options for nutrition and taste, and provide growers with an opportunity to enter new market areas.
From left are, biological science technicians Luis Coral and Laduska Sells shelling USDA-Tiara purple rice.
Professional chefs have begun using the new rice varieties. The chocolate brioche with brownie filling was made from a flour mix containing the purple rice variety Tiara.
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