There are over 40,000 varieties of rice cultivated throughout the world, most of which are eaten by humans. Over half the earth’s population relies completely on rice as its staple food with China, India, and Indonesia being the largest consumers.

Ancient rice cultivation is documented in many cultures. Asian rice (Oryza sativa) was domesticated in China some 13,500 to 8,200 years ago and African rice (Oryza glaberrima) was domesticated in Africa some 3,000 years ago.

Today more than 90 percent of the world’s rice is grown in Asia, principally in China, India, Indonesia,  Indonesia and  Bangladesh, with smaller amounts grown in Japan, Pakistan, , and various Southeast Asian nations. Rice is also cultivated in parts of Europe, in North and South America, and in Australia.

It is boiled, ground into flour, made into breakfast cereals, snack cakes, noodles, and used for alcoholic beverages like Japanese sake.

Varieties

Varieties differ greatly in grain length, color, thickness, stickiness, aroma, growing method, and other characteristics. There are six varieties of rice that are consumed most in the United States. Let’s talk about them:

Brown Rice – Rice that is hulled or processed to remove only the husks, called brown rice, contains a small amount of protein and fats, and is a source of thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, iron, and calcium.

Jasmine Rice – White rice is rice that has been “polished” to remove the bran and germ after the seed is hulled. Thai Jasmine rice is a long-grain white rice with a flowery aroma and soft texture.

Basmati Rice – South Asian basmati rice (primarily from India) is a long-grain white rice with a nutty flavor. Basmati contains all eight essential amino acids and folic acid. It is very low in sodium and cholesterol-free besides having a low glycemic index, meaning that energy is released at a slow, steady rate.

Arborio Rice – Arborio rice is a short to medium-grain white rice used for Italian risotto. It undergoes less milling than ordinary white rice and therefore has a higher starch content which makes it chewier. Arborio rice, unlike other types of rice, should not be rinsed before cooking.

Short-grain white rice – This rice is stickier, and is used for sweet dishes, like Thai Mango Sticky Rice, and for Japanese sushi as it keeps its shape when cooked. After cooking, sushi vinegar (sushizu) is added to this short-grain rice to season it when it is used for sushi.

Wild Rice – There are four species of wild rice (Oryza Zizania) which grow in shallow freshwater marshes and along shores and streams in North America.

There are also purple, black, and red variants of rice, which can be eaten whole grain or milled.

Although rice is a good source of protein and a staple food in many parts of the world, it is not a complete protein as it does not contain all of the essential amino acids for good health. When white rice makes up a major portion of the diet, there is a risk of beriberi, a disease resulting from a deficiency of thiamine and minerals. Rice contains no gluten, however, and can be eaten by those with celiac disease.

Cultivation

Rice is derived from an annual grass which grows to about 4 feet in height with hollow stems and long, flat leaves. The flower cluster or panicle is made up of a spikelet with flowers that produce the fruit, or grain. It is primarily grown on submerged land in the coastal plains, tidal deltas, and river basins of tropical, semitropical, and temperate regions. The seeds are sown in prepared beds, and when the seedlings are 25 to 50 days old, they are transplanted to a field, or paddy, that has been enclosed by levees and submerged under 2 to 4 inches of water, remaining submerged during the growing season. In hilly areas rice farms are commonly terraced to keep the paddies flooded at various elevations.

Successful rice production depends on adequate irrigation, including construction of dams and waterwheels, and on the quality of the soil. Long periods of sunshine are essential. Fields must be drained and dried before harvesting.

Harvesting

Dry rice grain is milled to remove the outer layers. Machines such as combine harvesters are used in commercial operations. The grain is ready to harvest when the moisture content is below 25 percent. Harvesting involves reaping, stacking the cut stalks, threshing to separate the grain, and cleaning by winnowing (air is blown through to remove the chaff) or screening. The rice grain is dried as soon as possible to bring the moisture content down to a level that is safe from mold. Smaller producers rely on drying in the heat of the sun, with the grain spread out on mats or on pavement. When we lived in the Philippines, we would pass rice drying on tarps spread out on the side of the road.

A substantial amount of the rice produced in developing nations is lost after harvest through factors such as poor transport and storage. Rice yields can be reduced by pests including insects, rodents, and birds, as well as by weeds, and by diseases. 

The by-products of milling rice, including bran and rice polish (finely powdered bran and starch resulting from polishing), are sometimes used as livestock feed. Oil is processed from the bran for both food and industrial uses. Broken rice is used in brewing, distilling, and in the manufacture of starch and rice flour. Hulls are used for fuel, packing material, industrial grinding, and fertilizer manufacture, The straw is used for feed, livestock bedding, roof thatching, mats, garments, packing material, and broom straw.

Basic Rice Cooking Method

No matter how you’ll be cooking your rice, always rinse it first. Doing so removes excess starch   which can result in gummy rice if it is not rinsed off.  The best way to do this is to place the rice in a mesh strainer and agitate it with your hands while running cool water over the grains.  When the water runs clear, you’re done rinsing!

This is the classic way to cook rice on the stove.

1. Use the right ratio of water. Add 2 parts water and 1 part rice to a large pot.
2. Bring the water to a boil. Once it’s boiling, add a big pinch of salt.
3. Reduce heat to low, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid, and maintain a gentle simmer.
4. Cook without peeking or stirring. Cook until the water is absorbed, about 18 minutes, or for about 40-45 minutes for brown rice. Try not to peek until the end of the cooking time so the steam doesn’t escape. Whatever you do, don’t mix the rice while it’s cooking — this will lead to gummy rice.
5. Let the rice rest covered. Turn off the heat and let the rice sit, covered, for 10 minutes. During this time, the rice will steam for extra fluffy results.

Or you can use a rice cooker, with equal parts water to rice. Just follow the instructions with the rice cooker.