The 9,000-year story of rice, the enslaved Africans whose genius built a fortune, and the US President who smuggled it into the country. But wait, there's more!

Believe it or not, half of everyone in the world eats rice every single day, and most of us have a bag sitting of it sitting somewhere in our kitchen pantry. If this is you, we're guessing that you don't know that it also holds over 9,000 years of history and has nearly 120,000 varieties! We didn't!

This week on Family Tree Food & Stories, Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely share some surprising facts and the history of rice. From Chinese rice paddies - which Nancy swears could be similar to cranberry bogs of the Northeast, to how enslaved African farmers created the famous "Carolina Gold" empire, and more. They even learned and share how Thomas Jefferson, the third US President, intentionally smuggled rice seeds out of Italy under threat of execution.

Nancy and Sylvia dish out some more history and tradition about rice and how it feeds nearly half the world, and that Carolina Gold rice nearly disappeared. You might be surprised to learn what wild rice actually is (hint: not rice).

This episode of Family Tree Food & Stories is comfort food for the brain. No anxiety, no doom-scrolling, just history, tradition, food, and stories, and a little Southern-meets-Yankee banter fun. Nancy and Sylvia guarantee that they'll start a different type of conversation around your dinner, or breakfast table at least one day this week.

Key Takeaways Things You'll Learn:

Why rice, not corn or wheat, so many people every day
The hidden history of "Carolina Gold": How the brilliance of southern African slaves from the "Rice Coast" built one of America's first great food fortunes, and why the world almost lost the secrets to keep it thriving.
That Thomas Jefferson really was a rice smuggler: And, how he could have been executed for doing so.A history lesson you likely didn't hear in grammar school.
Rice as ritual, comfort, and family tradition: From Japanese sacred ceremonies to Sunday Hoppin' John in the South, how even rice can be a big part of your breakfast routine.

What’s your family food story?

Join our Family Tree Food & Stories Facebook Group, and go to our Family Tree Food & Stories podcast page at: https://podcast.familytreefoodstories.com/ Hit subscribe, leave us all the stars, and share this with someone who takes their cup of tea seriously. You know who that is. Because every meal has a story, and every story is a feast.

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About Your Award-Winning Hosts: Nancy May and Sylvia Lovely are the powerhouse team behind Family Tree, Food & Stories, a member of The Food Stories Media Network, which celebrates the rich traditions and connections everyone has around food, friends, and family meals. Nancy, an award-winning business leader, author, and podcaster, and Sylvia, a visionary author, lawyer, and former CEO, combine their expertise to bring captivating stories rooted in history, heritage, and food. Together, they weave stories that blend history, tradition, and the love of food, where generations connect and share intriguing mealtime stories and kitchen foibles.

If you missed the first time around... now's your time to listen to Family Tree Food & Stories and get inspired to make better use of what’s already in your kitchen. Then visit our page to share how you're using your leftovers this year. Waste less. Cook smarter. Tell the story behind your fridge.

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