Cooch Behar, West Bengal

Kalonunia (Kalo Nunia) Rice

Kalonunia, also called Kalo Nunia, is an indigenous non-Basmati aromatic rice with a distinctive black husk and non-sticky texture, widely cultivated across Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar and regarded as the signature scented rice of the district. It is popularly known as the 'Prince of rice', said to have been a favourite of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan of Cooch Behar and used in offerings at the Madan Mohan temple. It is a blast-resistant, low-fertiliser landrace with real market demand and is sold by farmer producer companies such as Coochbehar Agro Service as well as in local rice shops. Buyers get an aromatic table rice ideal for everyday meals, khichuri, bhog and Bengali dishes.

Typical price: ₹120-300

Buying tip: Bulk 50 kg packets from the Coochbehar Agro Service farmer company cost around Rs 120/kg, while small 1 kg retail packs are pricier per kilo, so buy in bulk for the best value. Check that the husk is the natural black-brown of true Kalo Nunia rather than polished white rice.