Why Manoomin Wild Rice Is So Expensive | So Expensive Food | Business Insider

Manoomin, meaning "the good berry," is a type of wild rice that has been harvested by the Ojibwe people in the Great Lakes region of North America for centuries. At $24 per pound, manoomin costs 15 times as much as white rice.
For the Ojibwe people, harvesting this rice means much more than money. It's a way to connect with their ancestors and pass on their traditions to future generations. But as the rest of the world discovers this ancient grain, the tribe fears that it will lose its importance and that its natural ecosystem will be exploited.
So, what is the meaning of manoomin? And why is it so expensive?
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Why Manoomin Wild Rice Is So Expensive | So Expensive Food | Business Insider

[@Srt98srt]

My uncle is Ojibwa and every year for Christmas we all get bags of this stuff, hand harvested by his family on the White Earth Reservation, just like in the video. Really cool that wild rice is finally getting some more widespread notoriety, as it’s always been very important to Minnesotans, especially natives.

[@joan-mariacbrooks]

Lucky you! I hope they have a great harvest!

[@RRan-dk7ct]

And that's where i ordered from.

[@benobro5831]

Michiganders too

[@rlegato364]

Me too! From my father in law. Best stuff on earth. 😋

[@eustab.anas-mann9510]

I don't think you know what "notoriety" means.

[@1212ImAnubis]

In Indonesia there is 1 rice producing region which is quite expensive and rare, the cheapest price is $25-$50!!! Its name is known as "Mountain Rice". This rice is obtained from the Dayak and Banjar tribes who are in the Meratus mountains of Kalimantan. This rice has a fragrant aroma and a slightly sweet taste. This distinctive taste can be obtained because this rice is planted in a forest that has just been cleared and made into fields. They plant this rice once a year then leave the land empty after harvesting for 5 years and re-plant the rice again. Edit: All the method using manual method, similiar with this video too.

[@unknownnation9465]

Interesting

[@nerd26373]

Manoomin Wild Rice is expensive due to ten fact that there's a long tedious process behind its manufacture. These workers deserve all the credit they could possibly get.

[@N0Xa880iUL]

How do you know so much

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

@@N0Xa880iUL Only Allah knows. 💋s to you.

[@OGmemegenerator]

@@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536 💀

[@MrTxalus]

Its about Demand and supply. Those who need it will pay more and those who don’t need it don’t have to buy.

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

@@OGmemegenerator💀

[@TheVVildHunt]

Very cool video. Growing up Chinese American I learned the significance of rice at a early age. My folks that were in China grew up poor and would sometimes not have anything but rice, some days even not have rice at all because they were so poor. I was taught to always clean my bowl and eat every drop because "1 grain of rice is equivalent of 1 tear and sweat to farm." In Japan I think they even have a deity for rice. Loved this video for making me few closer to First Nations culture based off food. I hope their way of living off the land and respect for nature never changes.

[@RosaHernandez-vy4dm]

💯❤🙏

[@codygreyeyes1610]

Ayeee! I love you bud!

[@13gan]

Rice deity/spirit is common in rice culture since without rice, people often starve. I'm sure China have them too, just that the Cultural Revolution probably wipeout a lot of old custom and tradition. Maybe you can still find it in Taiwan.

[@butterflybush8981]

In South India - rice goddess is "Devi Annapoorni".

[@Ratryoshka]

In Indonesia the rice goddess is Dewi Sri. I think she's a harvest goddess in general, i forgot how the tale goes.

[@brickprik]

I grew up eating this stuff, as we harvested it right out our back door. We had it so much I would ask for white rice for something different. I don't live in that part of Canada anymore and really miss it, along with the walleye fillets. Everytime I go back that's all I want to eat.

[@freshprince130]

Growing up in the inner city my mom always served wild rice. She was the only person I knew who made it. I'm so thankful.

[@helenabara2092]

Never heard and never seen. Amazing.

[@reahsahpagel3354]

I got the opportunity at my university to take a class about indigenous seed sovereignty and land policy. One of the activities we did was actually learning the process of getting the rice grain to the final stage so they can eat it. Albeit it was a little of the process and not the whole thing. But i appreciated it so much especially in a region where it was so abundant at one point. My university also makes some manoomin dishes at the dining hall as well. It’s a step forward for sure. I suggest you guys try it with berries, apples and maple syrup w manoomin soo good!

[@tseewenpii4834]

Im proud of being Native I really like sharing with other tribes and their people our history our traditions.....i am very gratefl, very blessed.

[@thatdude3977]

Be careful cuz whites want to rewrite it differently

[@natsomething0]

At the beginning when the narrator says they people do this to connect with their ancestors I get such a pang. I grew up in rural Appalachia. As a child I tried so hard to get information on the past and was frustrated at every turn because my grandparents often had next to no knowledge of their own people. And those generations died, being poor, there was little in the way of artifacts I could collect to pass on. They had little beyond necessities and the few things they did possess...used until nothing was left of them. I often marvel at these groups of people who have such an appreciation for their heritage, and I wonder if takes the threat of its loss to produce this kind of attention to its preservation. Maybe that's the key difference. My grandmother died at 99 in 2019. She saw life move from existing primarily off the land with no electricity and little connection to the outside world, to our present state. And it doesn't appear it ever entered her head to make sure the memories of that extinct way of life were passed on. Maybe it happened too fast. Maybe she just wanted to forget those hard times. Sorry for the rant. I'm simply envious of those who care about the past in a way my own people do not.

[@niklas5547]

Love to see people still doing stuff just for the sake of keeping a tradition alive and showing it to their kids. As a child my grandfather(farmer) would insist on teaching us city-kids the entire process of harvesting hay and grain by hand and horse. We thought it was just silly because he had a tractor and all these machines. Now they are some of my most cherished and vivid memories from my childhood

[@SewardWriter]

I like these guys. They're passionate, intelligent, and seem like a lot of fun. Also, I feel less weird for thanking my tomato plants when I'm picking.

[@kileysevens9116]

Yes, thanking the earth for what it provides for us is a huge thing. 😊

[@user-zb8tq5pr4x]

@@kileysevens9116 The earth doesn't provide anything, these plants are doing their best to survive and we're killing them for our personal gains. EVOLUTIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON

[@childofcascadia]

Dead soul.

[@willcookmakeup]

I've never heard of this grain before, I would love to try it someday

[@peterbarnard6396]

Moose Lake is a commercial vendor you can find on-line.

[@JP-br4mx]

its not for you

[@willcookmakeup]

@@JP-br4mx I know, they literally said you'd have to go and make friends with them and that it's not sold online.

[@shawnpepin7890]

I got some recently, it was ordered online and it was well worth the hefty price… had a nutty flavour

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

@@JP-br4mx Why not?

[@minombreesmonica1]

This rice, Is worth every penny. respects to this people 🙏🏻

[@richardstonyisland9719]

I'm a black guy from Chicago I wouldn't want to buy the rice to disrespect anybody but I would love to try that rice and my family has Indian in it I reposted my comment because I got a KZbin alert that this comment was disrespectful and I'm highly confused KZbin you all are a bunch of idiots..... KZbin allows n-word in every song and movie But don't mention Jews and Indians which I have bloodline ties to both..

[@gubgub3275]

@@richardstonyisland9719 KZbin doesn't send notifications like that. Don't lie boy

[@potatopoii2720]

@@richardstonyisland9719hello black indian jew

[@adamchurvis1]

Hear! Hear! I can tell you from many years of cooking with it, though it may cost a bloody fortune, it is WAY better than that pure-black cultivated wild rice. You can always tell the truly "wild" wild rice because it's mottled and has browns and sometimes grays in the grains, and it has a less-shiny surface and a deeper scent. Just please don't overcook it.

[@adrianromo5111]

@@potatopoii2720😂

[@peterbarnard6396]

Love seeming an amazing product from my home state! Personally, I switched to patty-grown from MN as the price of true wild has become too expensive in recent years. That typed, I fully support paying maximum price for traditionally harvested rice!

[@miguelbarrera1215]

I eat wild rice everyday! Much respect for all the hard work:)

[@AjayTiwari-en9nz]

You must be having a lot of money.

[@Realatmx]

Omg where do you live😍

[@bobroberts5820]

@@AjayTiwari-en9nz Possible it's cheaper for them if they have connections to harvesters

[@andrewkutches]

Thank you for creating this video. It brings awareness and I will see where to purchase this rice.

[@mooonie6634]

If it says on the package, Product of California, it's not the real deal. You can also acquire wild rice grown in Canada.

[@ruthjazmine3347]

Wow. Cool. they told us some moral value by the tribes. Harvest the rice just as much as how you need, etc. Thanks for sharing this video 👍🏻

[@RRan-dk7ct]

I've purchased this rice years ago when it was around $15.00 a #, great rice but it take along time to cook .

[@nidheeshkumar6760]

Hmm every non polished rice takes longer time to cook.fully polished rice cooks faster

[@RRan-dk7ct]

@@nidheeshkumar6760 yea its a harder rice also but when cooked enough it gets softer.

[@K-Fed]

@@nidheeshkumar6760 While what you said is true, that's not the case here. Wild rice isn't a true rice, it's the seed of an aquatic grass. The difference in composition of the grain is what makes the cooking time quite a bit longer than true rice. E.g. My experience cooking different rice varieties: - White rice takes 16-20mins - Basmati or Jasmin take 15-16mins + 5-10mins of rest - Brown (unpolished) rice takes 22-27mins - Wild rice takes 45mins to 1hr+

[@nidheeshkumar6760]

@@K-Fed yup 👍 that is what I meant in our house my parents eat single coated rice it takes longer than completely polished rice.i think increase in fiber content increases time to cook

[@MrTxalus]

Great things takes with time right? Fast food Is a thing if you want it right then and there.

[@jaytravis2487]

For anyone who hasn't tried this, it's really the best rice. It's substantial and slightly nutty. Even an amateur cook will get and interesting texture from this rice. I haven't seen it in years but I hope that changes

[@gregjohnson9681]

We buy the broken wild rice bulk from the rice buyer (who gets it from the tribe)at a great discount! It tastes just the same!😊

[@elohimmcgovern5951]

5:16 I love the kid hitting the griddy in the background

[@christinagrubbs232]

So much we can learn from them. Have had the privilege of listening to presentations from this tribe before.

[@thegreencompany2101]

Great to see how this variety of rice grows and is processed. The commitment and skills of the employees is also worth mentioning! Really nice!

[@NazriB]

Lies again? AIA Food

[@thegreencompany2101]

@@NazriB can you please explain your reaction? I don’t understand😅

[@joan-mariacbrooks]

@@NazriB Are you familiar with Indigenous Culture here in this country? Because this is not AIA food. And no lies are being told here.

[@soxpeewee]

The offer tobacco to whatever they're hunting or gathering...what do they offer to tobacco plants?

[@romilaagard7621]

Than you all for what you are sharing🙂👣👣👣👣👣👣👣👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@subhankarghosh5787]

In Eastern Asia people take rice as there main food and being a Bengali I know that few rice spices are extinct. Like BHADOI RICE / BHADOI CHAL is one of the tastiest rice I've ever tasted . The famous basmati rice is no where close to this rice . But now i don't think that I would ever be able to taste that. 🥺🥺

[@krrippkanojia514]

Tai!? Kothay kheyechhilen?

[@subhankarghosh5787]

@@krrippkanojia514 WEST BENGAL e Malda te, my grandfather was a farmar and he bought some vadoi chal ( Dheki Chata) . And one of my father's friend gave us some chal and luckily I have some of that .

[@Harshit-vu6ky]

They actually have a world seed bank....

[@yoursafeplace8476]

Make contact with the native americans here, I'm sure they may send you a small amount so you could taste it, or even possibly trade with you for some if possible! native americans love to share tradition with others who have their own tradition!

[@ralphkatsidis8338]

Basmati rice is bland.

[@joan-mariacbrooks]

Manoomin is the best 'rice' ever and the only one I buy from Indigenous dealers at powwows when some are selling it or Indigenous companies. It has a wonderful nutty flavor and right now I have a very small bag left. Make it in soups or alone with a pat of butter and it's awesome eating. But I honestly don't share when I have some. It's just precious.

[@RRan-dk7ct]

That's right.

[@samlboehner8111]

Thank you for sharing this video. Next time I'm our that way, I would love to stop by and observe the drying and shucking (dancing) process. Blessings to all.

[@Shakodancer16]

Being from Mn I appreciate all of this so much❤

[@adamchurvis1]

I spent three summers in the early Seventies in the Canadian wilderness among some of the most expansive and productive wild rice growths you can imagine. A couple of years earlier I had seen photos of wild rice cane-and-canoe thrashing in a Time-Life cookbook series on international cuisines, and these I now saw were exactly the same. Just amazingly vast, and all completely unorganized and wild. Now I pay a bloody fortune for truly "wild" wild rice like this.

[@garythebard]

Fascinating. Also the composer for this video deserves some recognition, especially around the 7 minute mark. Great composition.

[@user-zb8tq5pr4x]

Sounds like something written by chatgpt lol

[@garythebard]

@@user-zb8tq5pr4x Haha, I suppose I can see that. Confirming my humanity, although I suppose it's the kind of thing an AI would do isn't it? ;) Seriously though that music caught my ear big time, as a composer I gotta do my part and acknowledge good music, especially when it's lurking in somewhere unexpected. Give that part of the video a close listen! Hope you're having a nice weekend!

[@user-zb8tq5pr4x]

Hey don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it isn't pleasant (: I dabble in music a bit and I appreciate the music in this video, but I'm sadly not educated enough to recognize the technical details of music. I bet it's even more beautiful in a way when you have that skill

[@jekku4688]

A fascinating "new" thing to learn about my home state, I never knew! Is it somewhat ironic that just north of Mole lake is...RICE lake? 🤔

[@tomelko]

There are 120 bodies of water in Minnesota officially named "Rice Lake".

[@thatdude3977]

Because your history is written by ignorance

[@farticlesofconflatulation]

As a Mexican, Mole and Rice make my mouth water.

[@noomwa]

It's wonderful tasting and I hope they continue to harvest in a sustainable way. Even the wild rice soup at the casino is good.

[@alvingoh8469]

Looks yum... Wonder if they used this rice to make sake, how awesome would it taste...

[@MedorraBlue]

Thank you for showing some true Canadian history here! :)

[@renataravensong]

This is in the USA, not Canada.

[@kberkstr]

@@renataravensongthis culture and tradition transcends both countries. The Anishinaabe homeland spans from Minnesota to Quebec and as far north as the shores of Hudson Bay

[@manimalabiswas6439]

Very Informative.. Thank you 👍🙏

[@MrOnionRing]

this video made me emotional idk why, i think seeing aboriginal people succeed like this moved me. All i see out in the prairie provinces are pain among our people.

[@yeahyeah5976]

I need more information on that walleye cheek chowder, that looks ridiculously good!

[@blazeblaze9118]

Awesome! 💯

[@freezingcicada6852]

I'm glad its getting attention. I knew a rice farmer doing the something similar farming wild rice in Indian Reservations. He was bouncing around 2 jobs and the farm thing cause he was trying to secure more funding to expand. He actually had demand for it (China was big bulk buyer) but he couldnt get business loans from banks just to reinvest in trucks and equipment.

[@rtqii]

I have eaten this rice, it has a wonderful mouth feel, and the flavor reminded me of pistachio nuts. It's very rich.

[@ConnorGhostHeart]

Very cool

[@mikeoxsbigg1]

Beautiful landscape. Looks like 20 kms from Ottawa.

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

Ottawa, in the Moon?

[@mikeoxsbigg1]

@@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536 nope, just plain old Canada. Respext to these guys for keeping it og.

[@BearMeat4Dinner]

Wow! This is close to my farm. Never knew that this went on!❤

[@ericclaptonsrobotpilot7276]

This is the most Minnesotan thing I’ve seen in a while.

[@userface4414]

Close, it's Wisconsin

[@ericclaptonsrobotpilot7276]

@@userface4414 as if there is a difference.

[@WelfareChrist]

we honestly need more native american restaurants that food looks really good

[@schmayron]

amazing

[@beel448]

Very interesting

[@pisces2690]

In the Philippines, we use "Bilao" to toss the rice and separate the bran from the grain.

[@tseewenpii4834]

Grateful....

[@vidhoard]

They are all such lovely people.

[@tseewenpii4834]

I recently purchased rice from the Red Band, it is very good. Years before in San Francisco i met a young ojwibwee women who told me about her people and the meaning of their harvest(s).

[@adamwenson]

"The tribe fears that as the world discovers this grain it will lose its importance"... great, lets make a video so millions will watch it and will be interested in getting this rice!

[@jakev1341]

Miigwech for this video!

[@ayeshaclassesgk]

Business insider❤️I love the vids you make and how you spread positivity to others is amazing. Congratulations ! You truly deserved it. You always work so hard on your videos and you truly do put so much effort and work into what you do

[@professordick4868]

Beautiful...

[@tearose3763]

The very best rice there is, miigwech for this presentation

[@Gerald.69]

I love it and it grows wild in NY in bogs with cranberries also

[@Prestrev1010]

Where in NYC can I buy Manoomin? Or what is a good site to purchase from?

[@miketheknife3072]

These people have the right idea they truly live with the land the don't make it conform to their ideals they conform to nature that's the way to do this 👍👍💯👍👍

[@lightrealmrapono]

I have some Manoomin rice tea. It's a very nice and unique flavour.

[@charlessnortley4519]

RedLake MN... I love wild rice with hamburger an cream of mushroom. Wild Rice Casserole

[@macintoshmechi]

Love this family

[@GreenBeamGlockCassarole]

Wisconsin has some cool stuff

[@davisjugroop3782]

This is wild stuff

[@zerotoeverything4348]

ooohhhh yeah, i saw this a thousand mile away 😂😂😂 since that one wild rice farmer with a boat starting popping out of my algo 😂

[@leatherxrose7743]

Loved the video, what a great tradition! But the narrator got on my nerves every time she said 'roice' instead of rice 😂

[@sunraylight8]

Any way i dont want who first the importance is sharing and giving.. and i love rice... you sincere nutritional value of it. I ate wild rice kind like that very delescious i promise to you its just i ate a bluberry with kernel of oats and wheats... love it...

[@peachtree2579]

Bro was getting sturdy on rice doing those smooth still turns

[@manishjain-pg6iy]

Appreciate and praise the efforts to protect their legacy

[@dvoiceotruth]

how many comments did you read before spitting this out?

[@vhvc5658]

In that case, chocolate and avocado should not be produced in countries other than Mexico or South America because they were also considered sacred there.

[@mayandas9581]

Nice.material

[@asankajayaweera7212]

A paddy field on the lake??? Can you believe that? It's really nice to see how those guys are riding a boat and pluck manoomin rice.

[@readpostcard]

Love this stuff. Use it in stuffing after it is cooked or just with some butter on it

[@jackdeering9301]

walleye cheek soup be mad exquisite

[@antitank4060]

take what u need not what you want😍

[@finn-sc5zg]

That Colors of The Wind reference doe

[@orimiel]

1:46 😏 "But I know every rock and tree and creature Has a life, has a spirit, has a naaame" 🎶🦅🍃

[@hananovinger]

Craving wild rice now! Definitely will need to go get some! It’s so yummy!

[@whattheworldsneedswhatneed774]

I wanna try this rice now!!! Is it good what they say?😮

[@UncleAnaesthesia]

Miigwetch for showing this, it is important and every gift from Mother Earth is a bounty.

[@kingmaybus8409]

Very cool we buy a couple pounds of this every time we go up to Minnesota and bring it back to Fort Wayne stockpiled

[@benblakemore4195]

WOOOWWWW AWSOME! ! THANKYOU FOR THESE GREAT STORIES BUSINESS INSIDER 😉😉😉😉

[@jonathanwilliams1065]

There is so much poverty on reservations It’s good to see that some of these nations have agriculture and an economy, hopefully enough to make them not dependent on the feds and welfare

[@dircxx8554]

I still prefer the white rice 🍙 but wouldn’t mind try it

[@jasonsharpbucks]

Now I want some so....good job?

[@tatertott2390]

My mum would always make this kind of rice ...i hated it when i was little lol

[@DDRWakaLaka]

yeah, wild rice kinda blows

[@vnette9777]

I love it now but as a kid definitely not lol😂🙂

[@kaeobermoy4401]

The native Americans are like us Polynesians we learn from Our elders and I can’t remember how many times I was told as a kid to pay attention because one day I will hand knowledge down to the younger generations

[@standtokill]

We have some of this Ojibwe rice, it's delicious and hearty.

[@samshields777]

This is dope but I think it’s hilarious that their tobacco offering to the rice is a bag of smoke shop tobacco

[@jadonhill5734]

Where else would they get it

[@i_bleed_makeup1187]

In the beginning of the video they said that they were afraid everyone will find out about this rice and it will lose it's importance. So naturally, Insider does a video on it so millions of people know about it 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

[@harryfarmer3847]

This is same process wild rice is harvested here I Maine.

[@unkolawdio]

Oh you know it....yummy

[@Cinnaray]

I love eating it! It tastes almost exactly like Jasmine rice but has a more earthy aftertaste and slightly more crunchy!

[@CFoRilL]

I question the description. How would it loss importance when it's feeding people?

[@edrinkalema1114]

Good job ❤❤

[@superstroy5463]

Welcome to Uzbekistan 🇺🇿

[@BWGPT]

I had this rice at a Michelin resto 15 years ago as a risotto and I haven't aged since 😊

[@annsam2111]

😅😅😅

[@Bansaliens]

In india: it's unhygienic In Europe: it's expensive Hypocrisy 🤣

[@reckonerwheel5336]

For the sake of accuracy, the “oo” in “manoomin” is pronounced like the “o” in the word “toll” not “tool”. “Muh-NOH-min”. The Ojibwe language doesn’t have that “ooh” sound, and if you catch an Ojibwe saying it that way, it’s because they didn’t get to learn their language, unfortunately.

[@kberkstr]

That’s not entirely true, it actually varies by dialect. Speakers of northwestern dialects in Minnesota and western Ontario tend to favor the “ooh” sound as in “tool”, for oo in strong syllables while more eastern speakers in Michigan and southern Ontario tend to prefer the “oh” sound in all cases.

[@srijonsaha751]

It’s good to see how people are holding back the tradition❤

[@K-Fed]

They don't care about the tradition. They care about the money. I'd be willing to bet that if the rice could not be consumed or sold, that tradition would die in an instant.

[@Ryantrock8888]

@@K-Fed Menominee decedent here, and I still harvest wild rice. I don’t do it for money, but to bring back food sovereignty in my state. There used to be thousands of acres of wild rice for not only the people, but the wildlife.