Name: Calasparra PDO Premium Paella Rice by Virgen de la Esperanza – 1 kg (2.2 lbs) - The Spanish Food Store | Gourmet Español en USA
Brand: Paella
SKU: VDE-RIC-PDO-1000
Price: 9.50 USD
Availability: InStock

Premium Spanish Gourmet Paella Rice by Virgen de la Esperanza

Discover the legendary grain chosen by top chefs worldwide to craft the ultimate, restaurant-quality paella. Hailing from the sun-drenched region of Murcia, Spain, Calasparra is the world’s first rice to be honored with the prestigious Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status.

Unlike mass-produced varieties, this culinary masterpiece is sustainably cultivated in a unique mountainous microclimate. The crops are continuously irrigated with cold, crystal-clear natural mountain water from the Segura River. This cold-water environment slows down the maturation process, resulting in an exceptionally hard, dehydrated grain that behaves completely differently in the kitchen.

🌟 Why Gourmet Chefs Choose Calasparra PDO:

- Protected Designation of Origin (PDO): 100% authentic imported Spanish rice, guaranteed by strict regulatory councils to ensure true heritage and uncompromised gourmet quality.
- Unrivaled Liquid Absorption: Due to its unique density, each grain expands in length and thickness, absorbing up to 30% more rich broth, saffron, and aromatics without breaking down.
- Perfect Al Dente Texture: Exceptionally rich in amylose, the rice releases minimal starch. This ensures the grains stay beautifully loose, plump, and firm—preventing the dish from becoming sticky or mushy.
- The Key to Authentic Socarrat: Its superior starch composition creates the perfect conditions to achieve socarrat—the highly prized, crispy, caramelized bottom crust of a true Spanish paella.
- Artisanal & Cooperatively Grown: Responsibly harvested, processed, and packaged by the historic Virgen de la Esperanza cooperative, preserving generations of agricultural tradition.
- Versatile Culinary Application: While it is the definitive choice for seafood, rabbit, or vegetarian paella, it also elevates Spanish arroz a banda, risottos, and oven-baked rice dishes.
- Dual-Label Specification: Conveniently presented in 2.2 lbs (1 kg) to seamlessly align with premium American recipe measurements and original importing standards.

🍳 Cooking & Ratio Guidelines:

Because Calasparra rice is harder and more absorbent than standard short-grain rice, it requires a higher liquid-to-rice ratio and a slightly longer cooking time.

Ratio: Use 1 part rice to 3 parts broth (or up to 3.5 parts depending on your heat source).
Cooking Time: Approximately 18 to 20 minutes. Allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving to let the flavors lock in.

⚠️ WARNING: Consuming this product can expose you to chemicals including lead or arsenic, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/food.