Types of Wild Rice
Not all wild rice is the same. The way it's harvested, processed and graded results in different flavors, textures and cook times. Here's everything you need to know about each variety we carry.
Grade A — Long Grain
Our most popular variety. Premium Minnesota grown wild rice harvested from clean northern paddies. Uniform long kernels with a deep color and firm chewy texture.
Bold nutty flavor. Holds up beautifully in side dishes, salads and pilafs. The one to start with if you've never tried real wild rice.
- Color — Deep black with a glossy finish
- Texture — Firm and chewy
- Flavor — Bold and nutty
- Cook time — 45-55 minutes stovetop
- Best for — Side dishes, salads, pilafs, grain bowls
Soup Grade
Smaller broken kernels from the processing of whole grain wild rice. Same great nutrition as Grade A at a more accessible price point. Cooks significantly faster making it perfect for busy nights and one pot meals.
The go-to for soups, casseroles and hot dish. A Minnesota kitchen staple.
- Color — Mixed brown and black
- Texture — Softer than whole grain — breaks down beautifully in liquid
- Flavor — Mild and nutty
- Cook time — 25-35 minutes stovetop
- Best for — Soups, casseroles, chowders, hot dish
Wood Parched
The old way. After harvesting the rice is slowly fire roasted over an open wood flame. This traditional parching process dries the rice, loosens the hull and creates a depth of flavor you simply cannot get from any other method.
Darker. Smokier. Richer. Nothing like it from a grocery store shelf.
- Color — Deep brown to black with a slightly glossy finish
- Texture — Firm and chewy
- Flavor — Earthy and nutty with a distinctive smoky undertone
- Cook time — 25-35 minutes stovetop
- Best for — Soups, stews, campfire cooking, pilafs
Hand Harvested
Gathered by canoe from natural northern lakes using traditional methods — the same way Indigenous communities have harvested manoomin for centuries. Dried naturally. No mechanical processing.
Lighter in color than cultivated wild rice. More delicate flavor. Every batch is slightly different — the natural variation of a truly wild grain. Seasonal and special.
- Color — Lighter brown with natural color variation
- Texture — Tender with a natural chewiness
- Flavor — Mildly nutty with complex undertones
- Cook time — 50-60 minutes stovetop
- Best for — Side dishes, salads, stuffing, anytime you want the most authentic wild rice experience
Wild Rice and Brown Rice Blend
An approachable introduction to wild rice. Real Minnesota wild rice combined with parboiled brown rice for a familiar flavor and texture. All the nutrition of wild rice with a gentler introduction for first timers.
Great for families. Great for anyone easing into wild rice for the first time.
- Color — Mixed shades of brown and black
- Texture — Varied — chewy wild rice and tender brown rice
- Flavor — Mild and earthy with a balanced nutty flavor
- Cook time — 30-35 minutes stovetop
- Best for — Side dishes, rice bowls, everyday meals
Canadian Jumbo Organic Wild Rice
The best of both sides of the north. Certified organic. Larger kernels. Grown in clean Canadian northern waters.
- Color — Deep black with natural color variation
- Texture — Firm and chewy — larger kernel than standard cultivated
- Flavor — Earthy and slightly sweet
- Cook time — 45-55 minutes stovetop
- Certified organic — no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides
- Best for — Side dishes, salads, pilafs, grain bowls
Quick Comparison
- Grade A — Bold flavor / 45-55 mins / sides and salads
- Soup Grade — Mild flavor / 25-35 mins / soups and casseroles
- Wood Parched — Smoky flavor / 25-35 mins / campfire and stews
- Hand Harvested — Complex flavor / 50-60 mins / authentic experience
- Blend — Mild flavor / 30-35 mins / everyday meals
- Canadian Jumbo Organic — Earthy sweet / 45-55 mins / sides and salads
Not Sure Which To Choose?
Start with Grade A if you want the classic wild rice experience.
Start with Soup Grade if you cook a lot of soups and casseroles and want something faster.
Start with the Blend if you or your family are new to wild rice and want a gentle introduction.
Try Wood Parched if you want something genuinely different — a flavor no grocery store wild rice can match.
Try Hand Harvested if you want the most authentic traditional wild rice experience available.
Try Canadian Jumbo Organic for certified organic larger kernels from clean northern Canadian waters.
Full Cooking Instructions For Every Variety
Wild Rice 101 — Everything You Need To Know
Ready to try real Minnesota wild rice?
1% of every sale goes to protecting the clean northern lakes and waterways we love — from Minnesota to Manitoba.
All Trails Lead North.