I can’t believe I’m going to do this, but here we are: I’m going to show you how to burn rice. It’s for a perfectly good cause: a cool, refreshing glass of ranovola, or burnt rice tea. This toasty-tasting drink is popular in Madagascar, where the bottom of the rice pot is reserved to flavor the local river water.

Rice crop near Ambositra, Madagascar by Bernard Gagnon. Closeup by Jean-Louis Vandevivère.

It’s super easy to do, as long as you don’t burn the rice too fast. You have to do it just right.

Ahem.

Start with a cup of cooked rice spread on the bottom of a saucepan. Heat over medium until it begins to smell toasty. Continue scraping and turning the rice… Until the whole mess rattles and clacks as you move it, like a cup of popcorn kernels. Lower the heat as you go, being sure not to send plumes of smoke throughout your house. (To be honest, it’s really more toasted than burned)

And here you have it: perfectly “burned” rice: Add on plenty of hot water and let steep until cooled. Meanwhile, go lounge in the shade of a baobab tree… if you can find any shade, that is.

Baobab tree in rice field by Zigomar. Baobabs with leaves by Frank Vassen.

…serve over ice (optional) with a smile (not optional).Ahhh, now that’s a refreshing glass of burnt! There really is no hard and fast recipe for this, but I burned 1 cup cooked rice and added about 8 cups water.  You might like your burnt flavor stronger or weaker – it’s up to you!

I hope you…

… love it!

It’s quite the experience!

P.S. She ended up drinking almost her entire glass!

Burnt Rice Tea | Ranovola

Votes: 1 Rating: 5 You: Rate this recipe!

Print Recipe

This toasty-tasting drink is popular in Madagascar, where the bottom of the rice pot is reserved to flavor the local river water.

• CourseDrinks
• Lifestyle5-ingredients or less, Potluck Friendly, Vegan, Vegetarian
• Food TypeCold Drinks, Non-Alcoholic Drinks, Rice

Servings

6 people

Cook Time	Passive Time
15 minutes	1 hour

Servings 6 people

Cook Time Passive Time 15 minutes 1 hour

Burnt Rice Tea | Ranovola Votes: 1 Rating: 5 You: Rate this recipe! Print Recipe This toasty-tasting drink is popular in Madagascar, where the bottom of the rice pot is reserved to flavor the local river water. CourseDrinks Lifestyle5-ingredients or less, Potluck Friendly, Vegan, Vegetarian Food TypeCold Drinks, Non-Alcoholic Drinks, Rice Servings 6 people Cook Time Passive Time 15 minutes 1 hour Servings 6 people Cook Time Passive Time 15 minutes 1 hour

Ingredients

• 1 cup white rice , cooked
• 8 cups boiling water

Servings: people

Units:MetricUS Imperial

Instructions

1. Start with a cup of cooked rice spread on the bottom of a saucepan.
2. Heat over medium until it begins to smell toasty.
3. Continue scraping and turning the rice... Until the whole mess rattles and clacks as you move it, like a cup of popcorn kernels.
4. Add on plenty of hot water and let steep until cooled.
5. Once cooled, strain out the rice and serve over ice.