I had only ever tried wild rice mixed with other rices before, so I was excited to try this product. It has a single ingredient - wild rice - so it's nice to have something that's not processed. The box is pretty small, but comes with 2 6oz packages, with instructions for cooking one or both of them. I actually made this rice in my Instant Pot using the rice setting, and it came out great. I was a little surprised when I saw how much water was still in the pot when it finished, but then read on the box that it is expected to be drained. I served the rice with a Thai beef recipe and it went together really well. Everyone loved the rice and it had a nice dark color and perfect tenderness. I cooked the whole box and we were able to get at least 8 servings out of it. It takes a while to cook but we were all impressed with the end result and love that it's healthier too! I'll admit that it's more expensive than I'm used to paying, but it does seem like a quality product.

I have had really great wild rice stuffing at restaurants, and I've tried some pretty good boxed wild rice blends at home. But I've never tried a wild rice on its own before. To cook this, I followed the basic suggestion on the box--adding one bag of the rice mix (the 12 oz box is separated into two individually sealed 6 oz plastic bags inside) to boiling chicken broth. But I also added mushrooms and onions which I had sauteed on the side. I seasoned with a blend of dried shallots, chives, salt and garlic, and combined it all before serving (I drained excess liquid from the rice, first). I love the nuttiness of the rice. I tried it on its own first, and I enjoyed the nutty texture and taste. But adding the mushroom, onions, and spices made it a more rounded side dish.

To be honest, neither my 9-year-old or 13-year-old liked this wild rice. He's a picky eater, and she is usually adventurous with food, so that was a surprise to me. But I'll make this again for my husband and myself. My daughter usually likes wild rice blends, so I think this might eventually take to this.

When early explorers in North America came across tall grasses growing in lakes that were supplying a staple grain for the native tribes, they called it "rice". It reminded them of rice paddies. So "rice" it remains.

These days, wild rice is a cultivated crop and graded by quality. Top grades, preferred by chefs, are about an inch long and fully fermented to almost black. This rice is brown so I am guessing it's just below that. In any event, it's really good.

To cook it, remember that for every cup of raw wild rice, you will need three cups of water. You will also need to set aside around 30-40 minutes to cook it because this rice is somewhere between the quick cook and the darker finish varieties. But keep an eye on it. You want it tender but not mushy.

It sounds like a hassle, I know but once you cook it, you can freeze it and then warm it up for a quick dinner. Plus it keeps pretty indefinitely if left in cool and dry storage. And it's really, really good.

I recommend it.

If you've never cooked wild rice before, this rice is quite a bit different from the white rice or the brown rice that most people eat. The cooking time is much longer, at over 1 hour. After cooking, you need to drain the excess water and the rice is very moist, not fluffy like white or brown rice. The texture is chewy and fibrous so it fills you up more quickly than white or brown rice. Flavor is stronger than white or brown rice.

This rice comes in two individual 6 oz. bags. I decided to make both at once, and ended up with TONS of rice, haha. One is probably plenty for a standard dinner. The directions on the package are easy to follow and the rice turned out well. It's not the best wild rice I've ever had but it was decent. I felt the grains were a little dry tasting. But they cooked evenly and had good texture and flavor after cooking. I'm going to use the leftovers in scrambles with eggs. If you've never had wild rice, it tastes more earthy and it's much chewier than white or brown rice. Also takes longer to cook.