Rice Varities

The Top 4 Most Sold Varieties Of Rice In The World

Rice is one item that is present in almost all households in the world. However, this staple food consists of several varieties. The list is endless.
In our latest blog, we have narrowed down the top 4 most sold varieties of rice in the world.

One of the things that you need to know about rice is that you cannot just replace one type for another.
After all, each rice has its own unique characteristics such as texture, aroma, oil content, cooking time and most importantly the taste.

Overall speaking, right is usually divided into three main categories based on the grain’s length.

1. Varieties of rice – Long Grain Rice:

This type of rice usually has a length that is between 3 to 5 times its width.
A few of the most known varieties of this type of rice are the Basmati rice, the Jasmine Rice, or the Carolina Gold rice.

While the different varieties of long-grain rice vary in terms of aroma and texture, they are all low in starch content. This means that they should come out dry and light and should never stick to your hands or utensils.

This type of rice is usually used for Pilaf, Biryani, Curry, Palestinian and Thai cuisine.

2. Varieties of rice – Short Grain Rice:

This type of rice is round and chubby. Mostly consumed in South-East Asia and West African countries, this type of rice is great when you want to use chopsticks or eat with your hands.

This type of rice includes varieties such as IR-64 broken rice, Chinese black rice or Japanese short-grain rice.

This type of rice is usually used for sushi, paella, rice pudding, sticky rice desserts (like mochi), and rice balls.

3.Varieties of rice – Medium Grain Rice

As you can easily tell by its name, the medium-grain rice it’s shorter than the long grain one but it’s not as starchy as the short one. One of the most interesting things about this type of rice is that it’s fluffy after it’s cooked but as it cools down, it tends to clump up.

Some of the best varieties of this type of rice include the Arborio, the Vialone Nano, and the Carnaroli.

This type of rice is usually used for risotto, arancini, rice salads, table rice, fried rice.

The Top 4 Most Sold Varieties Of Rice In The World

1. Basmati Rice

The Basmati rice is definitely one of the most sold varieties of rice in the world.

As we mentioned above, this is a long-grain type of rice that is originally grown in India and some parts of Pakistan. Some of the things that make the Basmati rice so distinctive are its aroma and flavor. The Basmati rice tends to be slightly spicy, floral, and very nutty.

As soon as you cook this variety of rice, you will notice that the grains don’t stick to each other.

It’s important to keep in mind that the longer the grain the better the rice.

The Basmati rice is highly nutritious and contains high amounts of good carbohydrates as it is low on fats. Not to mention that it is absolutely delicious.

2. IR-64 Rice

When we are looking at the most sold varieties of rice in the world, we can’t forget mentioning the IR-64 rice.

The IR-64 rice only grows in the most fertile regions of India. Like basmati rice, the grains are long unless broken.
They both share a unique scent that makes them completely different from other varieties of rice.

One of the reasons for the IR-64 rice to be one of the most sold varieties of rice in the world is its highly affordable price. However, that is not the only factor. In fact, due to its early maturity, improved quality, and wide adaptation, it is now one of the most sold varieties of rice in the world.

3. Jasmine Rice

Jasmine rice is a variety of rice that is mainly grown in Thailand.

If you are comparing this variety of rice with the Basmati rice, you will notice that its grains are shorter and plumper.
In terms of the aroma, they are similar but the Jasmine rice is more pronounced.

Steamed jasmine rice is ideal for eating with stir-fries, with grilled, fried, or braised food items, and in soups.

Jasmine rice can be purchased in various formats such as white rice, red rice, or brown rice.

4. Japonica Rice

The Japonica rice varieties are very common. This variety of rice has its origins in Central China but it’s cultivated predominantly in Japan and now in Korea.

The Japonica rice tends to vary between short or medium grains but it is always almost free from any aroma. When this rice is cooked, you can easily tell it is a Japonica rice variety if the grains stick to each other.

A lot of people know the Japonica rice as sushi rice since this is the type of rice that you can find in most Japanese restaurants.

This variety of fries is usually pearly white and polished.

Varieties of rice | Bottom Line

No matter the variety of rice that you pick, the good news is that you can make a wide range of recipes. Ultimately, you just need to pick the right one for what you need. While we just focused on the four most sold varieties of rice in the world, there are many more that you can use.

At Origen Hispania, we offer various varieties of Rice in bulk and retail packaging at highly competitive prices.

Contact us for more information.