Did You Know?
- There are more than 40,000 varieties of rice: and the three favourites are Basmati, Thai Jasmine and Italian Arborio.
- There are three types of rice grain: short, medium and long; and a single seed of rice will result in over 3,000 grains.
- If uncooked white rice is stored properly, it may last from 10 to 30 years.
- Brown rice contains phytic acid: in terms of macronutrients, a cup of brown rice has 40% more protein and twice as much fibre compared to white rice.
- If rice is rich in amylose, it will not stick together after cooking – instead appearing like loose grains. A good example of amylose-rich rice is basmati rice. Amylose is the crystallized form of starch, consisting of long unbranched carbohydrate molecules.
- India is the largest producer of Basmati Rice. The country accounts for more than 50% of its output in the global Basmati Rice market. Pakistan, Indonesia, and Nepal are also known to cultivate and plant Basmati.
- Sticky rice, also known as waxy, sweet or glutinous rice contains the highest amount of amylopectin and no amylose. It is very sticky and often used to make signature sweet dishes in Asia such as rice cakes.
- In some cultures, wedding guests were known to throw rice grains at the newly-weds – to symbolize rain, which is said to be a sign of prosperity, fertility and good fortune.
- Ofada rice, produced locally in Nigeria, contains 20-30 times more antioxidants than that in white rice.
- Ofada Rice contains lots of vitamins and minerals and is also high in fibre. It is considered a good substitute for those who have been advised to stay away from white rice.