Navara Rice

The “Navara Rice” is an indigenous medicinal rice variety of Kerala. There are two varieties of Navara – the black colour glumed and golden yellow color glumed. The rice is purple in color in both cases. Navara is used effectively in “Navara kizhi” and “Navaratheppu” – two main components of ayurvedic treatment in Kerala. It is also used as a health food especially in rainy seasons. The rice is known as “Shashtika Rice” for its unique and peculiar characteristic requirement of only sixty days to grow and mature. It is grown in nine districts of Kerala – Palakkad, Malappuram, Calicut, Wayanad, Kannur, Trissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam and Alleppey. It is easily digestible and hence a light food. Navara Rice is valued for its curative properties in circulatory, digestive and rheumatic complaints.