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Indian Heritage Red Rice

Heritage Indian red rice — Kerala Red and Matta varieties, rich in iron and antioxidants. Heritage Indian red rice (Kerala Red, Matta varieties). Long-grain partially polished. Rich in iron, fibre, antioxidants. Premium export-grade. Organic certification available.

Kerala Red · MattaYear-RoundHS 10063090
Download Spec Sheet ↓
Indian Heritage Red Rice
The category

Why Indian heritage red rice for export

Red rice has gained significant traction in international health-positioned markets — premium grocers, organic retailers, Ayurvedic / wellness brands — because of its nutritional profile (high iron, manganese, antioxidants, fibre) and traditional heritage positioning.

India's two best-known export red rice varieties come from Kerala: Kerala Red (Rosematta) — short to medium grain, deep red colour, partially polished; and Matta (Rose Matta / Palakkadan Matta) — slightly different grain shape, distinctive earthy flavour. Both are sold parboiled (par-cooked then dried) which gives a longer cooking time but better nutrient retention.

ZoeM works with cooperative networks in Palakkad and Wayanad (Kerala) — the two districts most associated with heritage red rice. Organic-certified supply available on dedicated orders. Pre-shipment lab testing covers purity, moisture, grain length consistency, foreign matter, and pesticide residues.

Variety guide

Compare varieties & grades

We supply the variety and grade most appropriate to your target market and end use. Below is a side-by-side comparison.

Most exported

Kerala Red (Rosematta)

Short-to-medium grain heritage rice. Deep red bran layer, partially polished to retain colour and nutrients. Parboiled for shelf stability.

  • Grain length 4–6 mm
  • Colour Deep red bran
  • Processing Parboiled, partially polished
  • Iron content ~3 mg per 100g (significantly higher than white rice)
  • Best for Premium retail, health food stores, Ayurvedic
Specialty heritage

Matta (Palakkadan Matta)

Palakkadan Matta GI-tagged variety from Kerala. Distinctive earthy aroma and slightly chewy texture. Premium specialty positioning.

  • Grain length 5–7 mm
  • Colour Red-brown
  • GI Status Geographical Indication tagged (Palakkadan Matta)
  • Best for Premium specialty retail, restaurant chains, Indian diaspora markets
Origin

Where ZoeM sources from

Primary regions: Kerala. Full sourcing footprint: Kerala (Palakkad, Wayanad, Idukki), Tamil Nadu, Karnataka.

Season: Harvest Oct–Mar; year-round supply from storage.

We work with farmer producer organisations (FPOs), cooperatives and direct grower networks in each region. Pre-shipment grading and quality control happens at FSSAI-licensed packhouses and processing facilities close to the source farms, minimising post-harvest delay.

Specifications

Trade specifications

Standard export specifications. Custom grading available on confirmed orders.

HS Code10063090 (Semi-milled / Wholly milled Rice)
Botanical NameOryza sativa L. (heritage red cultivars)
Origin StatesKerala (primary), Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
VarietiesKerala Red (Rosematta), Matta (Palakkadan Matta - GI tagged)
ProcessingParboiled, partially polished
Grain Length4–7 mm depending on variety
ColourDeep red bran layer retained
Moisture<14%
Broken grains<5%
Foreign matter<0.5%
Packaging25kg / 50kg PP bags; 1kg / 5kg retail vacuum packs; private label available
Container loadingApprox. 24–26 MT per 40' container
Shelf life12–18 months from packing in cool dry storage
Shipping portsCochin (preferred for Kerala rice), Chennai, JNPT
Quality assurance

Certifications & quality control

Every shipment is certified, lab-tested, and traceable to its source. This is non-negotiable for our buyers and forms the spine of our supplier relationships.

APEDAAgricultural & Processed Food Export Authority — Government of India
FSSAIFood Safety & Standards Authority of India license
GAPGood Agricultural Practices — farm-level certification
MSME / UdyamIndian Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
IECImporter-Exporter Code — DGFT
NABL Lab TestingPre-shipment testing at NABL-accredited Indian labs

Pre-shipment lab testing — every shipment ships with a NABL-accredited lab report covering relevant quality and safety parameters for the product type (moisture, residues, microbiological, density, colour, etc.). The report travels with the shipment documentation.

Phytosanitary & fumigation — we arrange Indian Plant Quarantine Department phytosanitary certificates and any required pre-shipment fumigation per the importing country’s regulations.

Traceability — we record source farm, packhouse, processing date and container number for every shipment.

Buyer questions

Frequently asked questions

Why red rice instead of white?
Red rice retains the bran layer with significantly higher iron, fibre, antioxidants, and manganese. Strong narrative for health-positioned retail and Ayurvedic markets. Distinctive colour and earthy flavour vs neutral white rice.
Kerala Red vs Matta — which?
Kerala Red (Rosematta) is the standard export variety — deep red, partially polished, parboiled. Matta (Palakkadan Matta) is a GI-tagged specialty with distinctive earthy aroma. Matta commands a price premium.
Is your rice organic?
Standard supply is conventionally grown. Organic-certified red rice (USDA / EU Organic) available on dedicated orders with appropriate documentation. ~30–50% premium.
What is the iron content?
Approximately 3 mg per 100g — roughly 2–3x white rice. Lab-verifiable on request.
Cooking time?
Parboiled red rice cooks in 30–40 minutes (longer than white rice). Some recipes call for soaking 30 min beforehand to reduce cooking time.
Packaging options?
25kg / 50kg PP bags (bulk wholesale). Retail vacuum packs 1kg / 5kg. Private-label printing available on confirmed orders.
Do you have GI documentation for Matta?
Yes. Palakkadan Matta is a GI-tagged variety; we can provide GI certification documentation with shipment.