Cascina Belvedere Organic Nero Rice

Name: Cascina Belvedere Organic Nero Rice
Brand: SPECIALITY FINE FOOD TRADERS
SKU: CAS04
Price: 6.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

£6.00

Net: 500g Organic Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy

Organic black nero rice from Cascina Belvedere — an aromatic wholemeal rice grown in Piedmont's Po Valley, with a striking jet-black colour and a distinctive aroma of sandalwood and freshly baked bread. Cooks in 40 minutes.

£6.00

Black rice — also known as forbidden rice — originates from China, where legend has it that the grain was cultivated exclusively for the emperor and his court, prized for its nutritional properties and reserved as a luxury that ordinary citizens were not permitted to eat. Today it is grown successfully in the Po Valley of northern Italy, where Cascina Belvedere cultivates it organically alongside their arborio and carnaroli varieties.

Nero rice is a wholemeal grain, meaning it retains its bran layer and with it a firm, chewy texture and a depth of flavour that polished white rices cannot offer. During cooking it releases a distinctive aroma that sits somewhere between sandalwood and freshly baked bread — earthy, nutty, and unlike any other rice variety. The deep black colour holds well after cooking, fading to a dark purple, which makes it one of the most visually striking ingredients you can put on a plate. It works as a side dish for meat and fish, dressed simply with olive oil or butter, and is equally at home in rice salads, grain bowls, and stuffed vegetables where its colour and texture add contrast and substance.

Producer: Cascina Belvedere, a family-run organic rice farm in Bianzé, province of Vercelli, Piedmont. The Picco family has been cultivating rice here since 1935, controlling every stage of production from seed to packaging. Certified organic (IT-BIO-004).

Storage: Ambient. Store in a cool, dry place.

Net: 500g

Nero rice does not require soaking before cooking, though a 30-minute soak in cold water will reduce the cooking time slightly.

Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Add the rice and cook at a steady simmer for approximately 40 minutes until the grains are tender but still retain a pleasant chew. Drain and dress while warm.

Note: the cooking water will turn a deep purple-black — this is the natural pigment from the bran and is completely normal.

For a simple side dish, drain the warm rice and dress with extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, and cracked black pepper. A squeeze of lemon and some fresh herbs lift it further. Excellent alongside grilled fish, roasted chicken, or slow-cooked lamb.

For rice salads, cook and cool the rice completely before dressing. The firm, chewy texture holds well in salads and the colour creates a striking contrast with bright vegetables, herbs, and seafood.

For a more substantial dish, use as the base for a grain bowl with roasted vegetables, feta or goat's cheese, toasted seeds, and a sharp dressing.

Nero rice does not behave like a risotto rice — it does not release starch in the same way and will not produce a creamy consistency. It is best treated as a boiled or steamed gra

Order Cut-Off Times & Delivery Date Selection

Orders placed before 2 PM (Monday to Friday) are dispatched the same day, unless you select a future delivery date at checkout.

Our Delivery Service

We use reliable third-party express courier services and high-quality insulated packaging. While our couriers are generally excellent, occasional delays can happen. We pack everything to stay fresh, even if transit takes a little longer.

Time-Sensitive & Event Orders

Can we guarantee delivery on a specific day? Unfortunately not - we rely on third-party couriers and can't control their schedules. All items leave us in perfect condition with good use-by dates, but final timing depends on the courier.

If your order is for a specific event, let us know in the notes section at checkout. We can often dispatch a day earlier to give you the best chance of timely arrival.

DELIVERY Changes After Dispatch

Once dispatched, your package is with the courier and we're unable to redirect it or change delivery details.

Saturday Delivery

Saturday delivery is available, though please note our couriers don't operate phone support at weekends and our office is closed. For event-critical orders, a weekday delivery gives us more flexibility to help if any issues arise.

Full delivery details and shipping rates: here

Description

Black rice — also known as forbidden rice — originates from China, where legend has it that the grain was cultivated exclusively for the emperor and his court, prized for its nutritional properties and reserved as a luxury that ordinary citizens were not permitted to eat. Today it is grown successfully in the Po Valley of northern Italy, where Cascina Belvedere cultivates it organically alongside their arborio and carnaroli varieties.

Nero rice is a wholemeal grain, meaning it retains its bran layer and with it a firm, chewy texture and a depth of flavour that polished white rices cannot offer. During cooking it releases a distinctive aroma that sits somewhere between sandalwood and freshly baked bread — earthy, nutty, and unlike any other rice variety. The deep black colour holds well after cooking, fading to a dark purple, which makes it one of the most visually striking ingredients you can put on a plate. It works as a side dish for meat and fish, dressed simply with olive oil or butter, and is equally at home in rice salads, grain bowls, and stuffed vegetables where its colour and texture add contrast and substance.

Producer: Cascina Belvedere, a family-run organic rice farm in Bianzé, province of Vercelli, Piedmont. The Picco family has been cultivating rice here since 1935, controlling every stage of production from seed to packaging. Certified organic (IT-BIO-004).

Storage: Ambient. Store in a cool, dry place.

Net: 500g

Preparation / Cooking

Nero rice does not require soaking before cooking, though a 30-minute soak in cold water will reduce the cooking time slightly.

Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Add the rice and cook at a steady simmer for approximately 40 minutes until the grains are tender but still retain a pleasant chew. Drain and dress while warm.

Note: the cooking water will turn a deep purple-black — this is the natural pigment from the bran and is completely normal.

For a simple side dish, drain the warm rice and dress with extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, and cracked black pepper. A squeeze of lemon and some fresh herbs lift it further. Excellent alongside grilled fish, roasted chicken, or slow-cooked lamb.

For rice salads, cook and cool the rice completely before dressing. The firm, chewy texture holds well in salads and the colour creates a striking contrast with bright vegetables, herbs, and seafood.

For a more substantial dish, use as the base for a grain bowl with roasted vegetables, feta or goat's cheese, toasted seeds, and a sharp dressing.

Nero rice does not behave like a risotto rice — it does not release starch in the same way and will not produce a creamy consistency. It is best treated as a boiled or steamed gra

Delivery

Order Cut-Off Times & Delivery Date Selection

Orders placed before 2 PM (Monday to Friday) are dispatched the same day, unless you select a future delivery date at checkout.

Our Delivery Service

We use reliable third-party express courier services and high-quality insulated packaging. While our couriers are generally excellent, occasional delays can happen. We pack everything to stay fresh, even if transit takes a little longer.

Time-Sensitive & Event Orders

Can we guarantee delivery on a specific day? Unfortunately not - we rely on third-party couriers and can't control their schedules. All items leave us in perfect condition with good use-by dates, but final timing depends on the courier.

If your order is for a specific event, let us know in the notes section at checkout. We can often dispatch a day earlier to give you the best chance of timely arrival.

DELIVERY Changes After Dispatch

Once dispatched, your package is with the courier and we're unable to redirect it or change delivery details.

Saturday Delivery

Saturday delivery is available, though please note our couriers don't operate phone support at weekends and our office is closed. For event-critical orders, a weekday delivery gives us more flexibility to help if any issues arise.

Full delivery details and shipping rates: here