It is unpolished: that means that while it is hulled, the bran is left on. The bran is maroon to purple coloured. If the rice were polished to take away the bran and left just the kernel inside, the rice would be white.
When cooked, Red Cargo Rice is firm and chewy, with a sweet, nutty taste. The colour fades when cooked and leeches out.
It is not a form of jasmine rice.
Cooking Tips
The cooking time for Red Cargo Rice is in between white rice and brown rice. For less chewy Red Cargo Rice, soak it in water for 30 minutes before cooking.
Storage Hints
Store in a sealed container in a cool place for up to one year.
Language Notes
The “cargo” part of the name just comes from it being exported in bulk, then packaged at its destination.