This seems a simple question wanting to find out if there is arsenic in the rice, correct me if I’m missing something here but it says it's from Thailand where rice is grown and has been for a long time. Iberia brand is a good example of this, they grow the Jasmine there and it is imported to a location in the USA for packaging. This is most likely the same process this rice goes through, imported from Thailand and packaged in the USA. Until there is proof otherwise this is what I’m willing to believe and trust. There is a tendency toward paranoia when it comes to foods grown elsewhere but when it comes to black rice the only information I could find was "The options with the least amount of arsenic, according to Consumer Reports, are sushi rice from the U.S. and white basmati rice from California, Pakistan, and India. Avoid Texas rice if you can, since it is reported as having some of the highest levels of arsenic from any growing region. " No mention of Thailand! Here is another nugget from a different site: "avoid rice grown in Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, and Missouri. Instead, look for rice from California, India, and Thailand." Well, there you go... Thailand got included in safe places to buy rice from. It's up to us to believe or not that the rice is actually imported but unless rice learns to talk we may never know the truth of that!

How does it taste and how is the texture?

I’m very happy with this black rice. It tastes like other black rice I have purchased. The texture is similar to brown rice, but I’d say it’s slightly sweet. Not nutty like brown rice.

Yes this product is good. Follow the instructions as directed and it will turn out perfect. Then you can add butter, salt, pepper or anything you like to it.