The Ultimate Guide to Buying Sella Basmati Rice and Aged Basmati Rice

Basmati rice, with its distinctive smell, long shape, and good taste, is very common in many households worldwide. It is primarily used to cook South Asian cuisine. Among the available types of this rice, sella basmati rice and aged basmati are considered to be highly preferred because of the distinctive features associated with them. Whether you are a professional chef or a foodie who enjoys cooking at home or looking to buy sella basmati rice, knowing about these types of rice can help elevate your dishes to a whole new level.

Sella Basmati Rice: Know all about it.

Sella Basmati rice is also parboiled basmati rice. This rice has gone through a particular treatment regarding its processing, which not only makes it more nutritious but also easier to cook. “Sella” actually means the process where rice is half-boiled in its outer covering.

Key Characteristics of Sella Basmati Rice

Parboiling: Parboiled basmati rice retains more nutrients as compared to Sella rice. Nutrients from the husk move into the grain due to which this type of rice is considered healthier.

Golden Hue: This parboiling treatment is what gives the Sella Basmati rice its characteristic and distinguishing golden color. When it’s cooked, this hue then disappears and the rice turns back into its natural white shade.

Firm Texture: On cooking, Sella Basmati rice retains a firm texture. This is good for foods that need clear and separate grains, like biryanis or pilafs.

More time for storage: Parboiled rice can be stored for a longer period, thus making it a good choice if you want to keep it for later.

Benefits of Aged Basmati Rice

In effect, aged basmati rice is simply basmati rice that has been stored for a long time. Normally, this is one to two years. The aging process increases the taste, smell, and feel of rice; hence, it is preferred by people who know about different rice types.

Key Characteristics of Aged Basmati Rice

Aging Enhances Aroma: With time, basmati rice develops a more enriched inherent fragrance. It bears more intensified nutty and floral aromas.

Higher Taste Value: This will bring a greater taste value to this aged rice, which will turn out to be complex and full-bodied for dinner when rice is the central theme of the meal.

Soft Texture: The grains of old basmati rice are both dry and long, which allows them to cook up fluffy and separate from one another. This is quite essential in a number of dishes, such as biryanis or pilafs, that call for the grains to stand out separately from each other.

Where to Buy Sella Basmati Rice and Aged Basmati Rice

In today’s world, with quick access provided through the internet, it becomes easy to find and buy Sella basmati rice or aged basmati rice. Here are some suggestions:

Online Retailers

Amazon: Amazon has many varieties of basmati rice products related to Sella and aged basmati rice from recognized brands. You can easily compare prices and reviews from customers and select what will work best for you.

Online Website: Online website, you will be able to find many varieties of basmati rice, including Sella and aged Basmati rice. You may check the internet to see if it’s available in the shop near you or order it for home delivery.

Specialty Food Sites: You can sometimes find quality basmati rice products at places like iHerb, Vitacost, and Thriving Market. They are going to be more organically and specially oriented, compared to what the average grocery store will usually have in stock.

Grocery Stores in Your Area

Asian Grocery Stores Rice: Most stores specializing in Asian or Indian groceries will, more often than not, have a pretty big variety of basmati rice, including Sella and aged. You may also seek recommendations from the staff at these shops regarding what exactly you need for your food.

Supermarkets: Most large supermarkets stock food sections with products from around the globe, and they various types of basmati rice in these sections. Look for brands that say “Sella” or “aged” on the packet.

Farmers Markets and Coops: Some farmers markets and local food coops may offer rice from local producers that is of higher quality. These markets are a great source for fresh, locally grown or produced regional items.

Recommended Brands for Sella and Aged Basmati Rice

You must opt for a good brand, as there is an involvement of great variation in the rice quality. Here are a few leading brands that are renowned for their Sella and aged basmati rice products:

Daawat: The Daawat brand, well-known in the market, deals with various varieties of basmati rice, including Sella and aged. Their rice exhibits consistent quality with good taste.

Royal: Rice is grown at the foothills of the Himalayas, having a very pungent smell and taste. They have basmati rice under Sella and aged also.

Tilda: Tilda is a premium brand that offers excellent quality basmati rice. Their aged Basmati rice has exceptionally high aromatic properties and an excellent texture.

Lal Qilla: Lal Qilla provides aged basmati rice for biryanis and other rice items. Their Sella rice has firm texture and golden color as well.

Cooking Tips for Sella and Aged Basmati Rice

Now, in the case of Sella and aged basmati rice, take water in the same proportion as the rice. Take 1 cup of rice—that is, 1 cup of 250 ml of water. This helps to retain a proper water-texture balance in your cooked rice. Add the water in this case and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Cook on low heat for about 15-20 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed by rice grains. Sella basmati grains are longer and harder compared to regular basmati grains. Soaking these types of rice in water for some time before cooking may soften them and reduce their cooking time by half. In case you have stored your Sella or any aged basmati rice variant in the refrigerator before cooking, make sure that it comes back to room temperature. This ensures that the cold grains never jump directly into the hot boiling water because this again would lead to poor heating and hence bad texture after cooking. It is always advisable to prepare this type of rice in a heavy-bottomed pot since it distributes heat uniformly across the surface area while boiling and thus prevents the rice from sticking at the bottom part. Once your Sella or aged basmati rice is cooked, allow it to rest for a few moments with the heat switched off before serving. This allows all residual steam inside the pot to be absorbed by the grains, rendering them light and fluffy for consumption. These tips will enable you to cook up tasty dishes with either of these rice varieties: Sella Basmati Rice or Aged Basmati Rice.

How to cook Sella Basmati Rice?

Wash Well: Wash the rice with a sufficient amount of water. Do this until the water turns clear, usually two to three times. This removes dust or dirt from the grains.

Soak: Rice should be soaked in water for a minimum period of 30 minutes before cooking. It makes the grains soak in water and hence gets them cooked uniformly.

Water Ratio: Normally, for cooking Sella basmati rice, 1 cup of rice requires 2 cups of water. Adjust proportionately according to your recipe.

Cook on Low Flame: First, boil the water and then lower the flame. Place a lid over it. Let rice cook slowly as water is soaked up until it becomes soft.

Cooking Aged Basmati Rice

Rinse and Soak: Sella rice can be called the counterpart of aged basmati rice. One must not forget to rinse and soak both varieties of rice before cooking for uniform cooking and to prevent the rice grains from sticking to each other.

Parboil for Biryanis: If you are making biryanis, you need to parboil the rice such that it gets only 70% cooked so that every grain stays separate and does not become mushy during the final cooking.

Use Aromatics: When using aged basmati rice, enhance the taste by cooking it with whole spices that have a tantalizing aroma, such as cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. These aromatics will bring a delicate and intricate flavor to the rice.

Steam or Dum Cooking: If you want your rice to have great texture, consider the dum cooking method. This is all about making a layering of rice and other ingredients and allowing it to cook very slowly in a closed vessel. This way, all the flavors will get soaked into the rice, but it will still remain fluffy and separate from the rest of the ingredients.

Conclusion

Sella basmati rice and aged basmati rice have extraordinary traits that can transform your cooking. When cooking up a fragrant biryani, substantial pilaf, or plain side dish, choosing the right rice type is crucial. For a meal full of flavor and aroma with good texture, you want to make sure you know about Sella and the aged Basmati rice variety and where to buy them.

Due to the convenience of online purchasing and the availability of high-end brands, finding the best basmati rice for your needs today has become an easy affair. Relish the rich heritage and premium grade Sella and aged basmati rice; experience a distinct change in your cooked food.