Tilda Rice: what's going on?

[rotuts]

I like basmati rice. I use a fuzzy logic rice cooker. in the past I used to get the "burlap aged" basmati

rice. you know , those sacks from India. aged was said to be better.

then I moved to Tilda Rice, and used to get the 20 lbs "more modern" "sacks"

I'm fairly lucky, a town or two over towards BOS ( Waltham ) there are two very nice and large

Indian Emporiums. i went there to get a few things, including a 20 lbs 'sack' ( plastic bag ) of

Tilda rice. there were none. you had to buy 40 lbs. I might be dead before i eat 40 lbs.

and the 40 lbs in one store went from 49 USA bucks to 59 USA bucks.

any idea what is happening? I recall in the not so distant past the Swells in India had some crop

issues and were not going to export Basmati. it passed.

Ill just go back to my FAV emporium and ask for the best bag of "aged basmati"

I know i wont be able to tell the difference. but am curious.

[HungryC]

Sorry, I can't help you figure out your local pricing on rice, but I will make a pitch for TX grown basmati (sold as "texmati"). Keep an American farmer in business! Also good is the Louisiana grown jasmine variety sold under the "Jazzmen" label.

[rotuts]

Ive heard of these rice-es. id like to try them. there are also stunning delicous rice-es grown in CA.

[huiray]

Just keep tabs on your consumption of this micronutrient...

http://blog.beaumontenterprise.com/bayou/2012/09/19/texas-rice-full-of-arsenic/

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2012/09/19/study-says-arsenic-levels-high-in-texas-rice/

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I have not seen these "40 lb bags" of Tilda rice as the only option in the Indian places I shop in in my area. Perhaps you might try some other brands? Royal is nice; various Pakistani brands are good; Zebra used to be a favorite but in recent years they seemed a little less aromatic but are still good for their aged stuff... Don't think of only Indian brands, try Pakistani brands.

[rotuts]

I plan to ask the owner of my fav Imporium what Brown Bag he recommends i might ask a few of the ladies around.

of interest, Pakistani brands might be harder to find: in the past there was a very large IndiaMart one town over. it had both India

jared concoctions ( Patak say ) and some Pakistani similar brands ( cant remember there mark ) but its long closed.

it seems Indian and Pakistani stuff dont mix so well in my area. but I have not studied this.

Ill ask tomorrow.

Edited September 20, 2013 by rotuts (log)

[saluki]

I used to use Tilda Basmati all the time, but lately I've not seen the smaller bags. I switched to Zebra for a while but now have settled on Daawat.......A Persian friend of mine loves Pari Basmati. He is very particular about his rice cooking and uses alot. I do buy that on occassion.

Edited September 20, 2013 by saluki (log)

[patrickamory]

Hi rotuts,

What are the names of the two Indian groceries in Waltham? Curious to check them out.

Thanks.

[annabelle]

Just keep tabs on your consumption of this micronutrient...

http://blog.beaumontenterprise.com/bayou/2012/09/19/texas-rice-full-of-arsenic/

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2012/09/19/study-says-arsenic-levels-high-in-texas-rice/

------------

I have not seen these "40 lb bags" of Tilda rice as the only option in the Indian places I shop in in my area. Perhaps you might try some other brands? Royal is nice; various Pakistani brands are good; Zebra used to be a favorite but in recent years they seemed a little less aromatic but are still good for their aged stuff... Don't think of only Indian brands, try Pakistani brands.

I am not a fan of basmati rice, but as far as arsenic goes, it is naturally occurring and it's in many foodstuffs. Don't sweat it.

[huiray]

I am not a fan of basmati rice, but as far as arsenic goes, it is naturally occurring and it's in many foodstuffs. Don't sweat it.

Correct. Arsenic is everywhere and is a necessary trace element in our diets. However, if one ate a lot of rice (and it seems rotuts does not really do so), like every day at every meal (i.e. it's your staple), then one should be aware that one may be taking in somewhat more than is necessary if one ate exclusively Texan rice, at least the types that were tested. Note I didn't say to avoid/stop eating that rice. ;-)

p.s.: There is a thread here, I seem to remember, and elsewhere too on recent findings of high arsenic in rice, with lots of arm-waving on them. Heh.

Edited September 21, 2013 by huiray (log)

[rotuts]

India @ waltham MA:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/patel-brothers-waltham

this seems to be a chain but the one I prefer. friendly, good prices, always has people in it. no min. charge. fresh veg in the center isles

http://www.yelp.com/biz/waltham-india-market-waltham

larger. food court downstairs. salty down there! best place for non-food: incense etc 10 $ min charge.

let me know what you think. Im also keen on the best indian rest. waltham or there abouts

[rotuts]

i forgot my little cheat sheet with the info from the eG's rice eaters. They did have rice from Pakistan.

so I asked the owner. he and his wife recommended India Gate "Classic" :

they had a very large selection ( Patel Bros.) . this stuff must have Gold in it: $ 16.99 / 10 lbs.

[huiray]

$16.99/10lbs is a few bucks more than what is commonly charged for many varieties, in my experience, including Tilda (varies btw 12+ and 14+ bucks/10lbs) so I wouldn't quite say that it has gold in it. ;-)

(Yes, some brands are cheaper, coming in at, say, around 14 bucks or thereabouts for 20 lbs.)