Ponni – A unique blend of natural goodness and refined taste

Known for its refined taste and quality, Ponni rice holds a special place in South India (though it is exported across the world). This hybrid is said to be created by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in 1986 and is named after Kaveri which is also called Ponni. Here, we reveal what makes this rice so special…

Cultivation and exportation

The mineral properties of the river Kaveri makes the soil rich and is a perfect place to cultivate Ponni rice, which is mostly developed along the river banks. This variant is also grown in Trichy and Madurai. It is exported to countries like Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, Papua New Guinea and many more.

What sets it apart

• It is considered top-of-the-line variant for its refined taste and fine quality.
• Ponni treats the taste buds with a burst of flavour.
• It ranks high in the list of top rice variants, thus is expensive.
• The rice has various offshoots and its similar variant in Karnataka is called ‘Gowri’.
• The grains are impeccable in quality and size, as it is processed with Swiss Processing Technology.

Nutritive value

Ponni’s nutritional properties are believed to help reduce the risk of diabetes and improve digestion as well. Though it is best to consult with your doctor if you are suffering from any health ailment.

This variant is gluten-free, high in fibre and low on glycemic, which helps in bringing down cholesterol. A low glycemic score(38) indicates that the starches in parboiled rice don’t cause a huge spike in glucose and contains less starch than most types of Indian rice. Parboiled rice has double the fibre than that of cooked white rice.

Dishes popularly prepared

The famous dishes prepared from this rice include pulao, vegetable biryani and dosa.

NUTRITION FACTS OF TAMIL PONNI RICE

NUTRITIONAL FACTS
Calories	160	Sodium	4 mg
Total Fat	0 g	Potassium	0 mg
Saturated	0 g	Total Carbs	36 g
Polyunsaturated	0 g	Dietary Fiber	0 g
Monounsaturated	0 g	Sugars	0 g
Trans	0 g	Protein	3 g
Cholesterol	0 mg
Vitamin A	0%	Calcium	0%
Vitamin C	0%	Iron	6%

Source: Myfitnesspal.com

COOKING TIME AND METHOD OF TAMIL PONNI RICE

Quick rice recipes can be easily made using a pressure cooker, as it saves time and energy.

TAMIL PONNI	PROCESS 1 (Pressure)	PROCESS 2 (Electric)
Quantity in gm	235 gm	235 gm
Water	1-1/4 cup	1 cup
Pressure Cooking	HP 4 min	HP 6 min
Pressure release	NR	NR (9 min)
Results	Cooked with hardness in the center	Perfect and slightly hard but chewy
Notes**		*great for those who like harder/chewier rice

Source: Quora

So go ahead and indulge in this rich and wholesome rice!