Order 100% Organic Varagu (Kodo Millet/Koden/Kodra) Rice and other Unpolished Millets (Exclusively Vacuum Packed) Online from Sweet Karam Coffee
Sweet Karam Coffee is happy to partner with Namma Nellu to bring 100% organic unpolished millet varieties to your home. We get the maximum nutrients only via "unpolished" variety of millets.
(More about Namma Nellu below)
Varagu- The Versatile Millet
Varagu/Kodo Millet is domesticated in India since last 3000 years; it is thought to be one of the oldest cultivated grains by humans.
Varagu is highly versatile and a drought tolerant millet which grows well in tropical and sub-tropical regions. It grows well even in poor soil. The versatile/adaptable nature of Varugu is written in literature as well. Varagu/Kodo Millet is a popular food during the time of fast or upvas in some parts of India.
Health Benefits of Varagu
- Low glycemic index which means that Kodo millet release glucose/energy slowly, over a longer period of time and thus helps in sugar control. This makes it a great substitute for polished white rice
- Gluten-free - Great for people with gluten intolerance or celiac disease.
- Easy to digest as it is rich in dietary fiber.
- Good source of vitamins E, Vitamin B6, Niacin, folic acid and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc
- Controls Blood Sugar: Kodo Millet slowly releases the energy in body , thus controlling the blood sugar.
- Anti Oxidant Properties: It has antioxidants like polyphenols
- Kodo millet is very beneficial for postmenopausal women as well
Varagu/Kodo Millet is also used in preparation of ayurvedic medicines.
For something to become a habit, we should get on to it gradually. Replacing rice or wheat with Millets few times a week will slowly become a life long habit and you'll end up eating a tasty, balanced diet that's nutritious too. Organic Millets not only help us and but also the farmers who are struggling to provide us nutritious food.
Tasty Recipes with Varagu:
Here are some of the things you can do with Varagu: Idli, Dosa, Pulao, Athirsam, Adai, Upma.
About Namma Nellu:
- India is endowed with very exceptionally rich biodiversity in rice. So rich that it will take you 500 years to taste all native varieties of rice just once if you eat one rice a day!
- Since 1995 Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems (CIKS) an NGO has been conserving traditional rice varieties and documenting and researching their agronomic properties.
- Through the years they have realised that these varieties are important not only for their agronomic properties (flood/drought resistance, pests/disease resistance, suitability to various soil types and ecosystems etc.) but also their value in terms of nutrition, culinary traditions and therapeutic value.
- The numbers and extent of cultivation of these varieties have been declining sharply and many of these varieties are threatened with extinction.
- Namma Nellu through Sempulam Sustainable Solutions is involved in helping these farmers market these varieties. Systematic monitoring of organic cultivation of these varieties is ensured. Farmers are paid a premium price at the point of purchase itself. Namma Nellu provides branding and marketing support and ensures the customer organically cultivated traditional varieties.
- Namma Nellu also procures region-specific rice varieties from across India from genuine organic farmers. Along with its huge range of traditional organic rice varieties, organically cultivated pulses and millets are also procured directly from farmers and supplied to the consumers.
- During the course of its work for the last 27 years on indigenous seed conservation, the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems (CIKS) has collected more than 100 indigenous varieties of rice suitable for cultivation in Tamil Nadu.
- Several indigenous paddy varieties have a low Glycemic Index (GI) and this is of crucial importance in a population with a high and increasing incidence of diabetes.
Organic is not a trend, it is the traditional way to live healthy.