I don't notice it's absence....It's always been scarce. Years ago it was only harvested by the Ojibwa Indians in Minnesota. I have a friend who is something 3/4 Ojibwa, raised on the Res and had relatives who harvested and roasted their own rice. She was my source!
Then they started farming it in California, and the grains were long and perfect, but it lacked that wild true smokey flavor of "The Real Stuff".
I don't think $1.88 for about 1/2 a cup is a lot, it's always been expensive....But when Carol would get it from her father, is was $15 for 5 pounds!! But alas he's too old to harvest rice anymore.
Last time I bought it I got it at Sam's.
Linda C

I was just at Sam's club today (in Salina, KS) and they have never had wild rice. Perhaps its a regional thing?

Neal

You can order it on line.

Here is a link that might be useful: wild rice

Because of the weather last fall, much of the Minnesota rice crop didn't ripen. apparently the Candaian crop did Ok, but in some parts of Minnesota the crop was lost.
Perhaps that's why you are finding it hard to locate.
Linda C

I always get it at Trader JoeÂs. Last week I cooked a whole package. I freeze it in zip lock bags about a half cup each. I use it in salads in the summer soup in the winter or just add some with regular brown rice.

Lindac,

If you want that nutty flavor try Lundberg Christmas Rice. ItÂs a red rice blend grown in California. I find it at the health food shop.

Claudia

We can get it just about anywhere here. If you'd like to e-mail me your address I'd be happy to send you some.

Linda

No shortage here - but I'm in MN.

I've noticed that it's hard to find for the last year or so, too. I know it's expensive (at least the true wild rice is), but I'm not finding it at all.

Speaking of rice, has anyone had the "forbidden" black rice? Do you have an on-line source? I'm curious about it.

What do you mean "forbidden" black rice? I have some black, wild rice in my cupboard that I purchased (very expensive) at our regular grocery store here. (It's called HEB).

What color is regular wild rice?

The wild rice I know (it's really a grass) is a dark brown color.

The so-called "forbidden" rice is a short grain rice that is black raw and supposed to cook up to a deep purpl color. It's suppposed to smell a lot like popcorn when cooking and have a very nutty taste to it. I keep looking for it, but haven't found any.

No HEB here, unfortunately. I think they are mostly in the Texas area. No Meijer either, darn it. About the only thing about the Ohio Valley area I really miss is Meijer.

Interesting... the rice I have is black but very long. It does have a nutty taste though. If you cook it long enough it pops open, or blooms - I think they call it - and the inside is white. The brand is Reese. It says all natural Minnesota Wild Rice, paddy grown. 4 oz. was a little over 5.00. The website on the box is www.worldfiner.com

I was in North Dakota a few years ago and had some delicious wild rice soup. I've tried to recreate it with the black stuff but I've often thought it must be a different kind of rice.

I bought some forbidden black rice at T.J. Max. It didnÂt look anything like wild rice. It did turn purple when cooked. We didnÂt care for it so I gave the rest of the jar to my friend and they didnÂt like it either. Try T.J.s if you have one close I see it there often.

Claudia

Truly "wild" wild rice is more a brown color, similar to grass seed, maybe a shade darker.

Cultivated wild rice is very dark brown, smooth and shiny.

trsinc, here is my wild rice soup recipe, there are dozens of different ways to make wild rice soup. I am a Minnesotan, and we love this one!

Linda's Minnesota Wild Rice Soup

2T butter
1/4c chopped onion
1/2c flour
4c chicken broth
1-1/2c cooked wild rice
1/2 tsp salt
1c diced chicken or ham
1/2c grated carrot
1c half and half
1T dry white wine
1/2c slivered almonds

Melt butter in saucepan, saute onion til tender. Whisk in flour then
gradually add broth. Cook, stirring constantly until thickened. Add rice,
salt, chicken, and carrots. Blend in cream and wine, heat to serving
temperature. Garnish with slivered almonds.

Linda

I haven't looked for wild rice recently, so I don't know if it's scarce here, but the last time I was perusing the rice section, a few months ago I think, there were several choices of brands of wild rice.

I bought some Forbidden Rice quite a while back, cooked it, and really liked it. I don't even remember what I served it with or what I did with it, but it tasted fine, sort of nutty flavored. I had forgotten about it. Now I'm thinking I want some rice for dinner, lol.

Sally

Thanks, doucanoe! Sounds delicious. The soup I had was at a restaurant in Fargo, called either Grandma's or Mothers. I'm going to try your recipe tonight - if I have chicken broth, that is,lol.

Thank you for the recipe.

Tammy

Linda - doucanoe, I made your recipe last night and it was delicious! Hubby liked it too.

Glad you liked it, Tammy! I made it for some CF members last fall when we went to Tennessee and it was a hit there, too.

(Of course I couldn't compete with Karen's gumbo! LOL)

Linda

Thanks for the comments folks! I contacted my local grocery store manager and he has orderd some and will be here on the next truck! I hope he's right because I want to try that recipe Linda posted!

Thanks

Neal