Varieties of Rice Around the World
Rice serves as a universal language in most places, and is one of the most commonly found ingredients all over the world. Did you know that there are over 40,000 varieties of rice on the planet? We’ve put together everything you need to know about our top 9 favorite rice varieties, so dig in and see if there are some you haven’t tried yet!
1. Basmati Rice
This variety of rice is long, slender-grained, and aromatic, and when cooked, it can expand to more than twice its dry length!
2. Oryza Glaberrima aka African Rice
Commonly known as African rice, this grain was cultivated long before Europeans arrived in Africa, but In its dried state, it has a deep black color, and it turns purple during the cooking process thanks to its high content of antioxidant-rich anthocyanin.
3. Broken Rice
It has a softer texture and absorbs flavors more easily, and it also cooks quicker, making it perfect for porridges and congees!
4. Carolina Gold Rice
This fluffy non-aromatic rice creates perfect individual grains when cooked, making it ideal for a variety of dishes from creamy risotto to sticky Asian-style rice.
5. Red Rice
With the same natural & nutritional colorant as black rice, red rice has the capacity to lower blood pressure, prevent diabetes, improve vision, and reduce cancer cells, while also tasting amazing!
6. Black Rice
In its dried state, it has a deep black color, and it turns purple during the cooking process thanks to its high content of antioxidant-rich anthocyanin.
7. Arborio Rice
This variety is short-grain rice named after the town of Arborio, in the Po Valley in Italy. When cooked, the rounded grains are creamy and chewy compared to other varieties of rice. It is now commonly replaced by the Asian species of rice, Oryza Sativa.
8. Jasmine Rice aka Thai Fragrant Rice
Also known as Thai fragrant rice, this variety is an aromatic “long-grain” rice where each grain is about four times as long as it is wide. Its nutritional value is similar to white rice.
9. Glutinous Rice aka Sticky or Sweet Rice
Grown mainly in Southeast and East Asia, and Northeastern India, glutinous rice is also referred to as sticky rice or sweet rice. It has a shorter grain than most varieties, and turns opaque when cooked.
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