Basmati Rice: 4 Tasty Facts That You Probably Did Not Know
Posted on: 19 May 2017
Americans love their rice. Brown rice, white rice, jasmine, arborio, and basmati are just a few of the 40,000 different types of rice grown in the world. Basmati rice is prized for its scent, and the fact that it lengthens as it is cooked, up to 12 mm per grain. Economists say that the basmati rice market is rebounding from recent low international demand and oversupply. This is great news for rice connoisseurs. Here are a few other facts about basmati rice that you may not know:
Basmati Rice Is An Annual One Hit Wonder
Only one crop of basmati rice is grown annually in India and Pakistan. That crop yields over 2.2 million tons of rice and feeds over 100 countries. Basmati rice is prone to wind damage as it grows taller than other rice in the paddies. Although there has been the recent oversupply of basmati rice, farmers give it lots of care and attention to make sure that they can harvest enough of the coveted grain to fulfill renewed demand.
Basmati Rice Is Scented
Basmati rice is loved for its delicate scent in Indian and Asian dishes. India and Pakistan are the primary exporters of basmati rice to the rest of the world, although other countries grow it domestically. The almost pure, but still synthetic flavoring 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline is added to Indian rices like jasmine and basmati to give them a delicate, floral aroma after cooking. Some think it slightly reminiscent of sweet popcorn.
Basmati Rice Is Not Sticky
Many Asian and Middle Eastern rice dishes use sticky rice to hold the meals together (think sushi). Basmati rice is not sticky and allows for use in dishes such as curries and pilaf, where the rice should be light, separated, and fluffy. Basmati rice is a long grain white rice that has been milled to remove the outer covering. It tends to be more expensive that the milled, long grain, white rice Americans tend to consume because of the fact that it needs TLC to survive its growth season in the paddy fields.
Basmati Rice Is Healthy
Lastly, one fact about basmati rice is that it is gluten, fat, sodium, and cholesterol free. However, it is high in carbohydrates and fairly low in protein. Manufacturers enrich most basmati rice with B vitamins, such as folate. It is also on the lower end of the glycemic index making it a good choice for many diabetics. Try it in your next rice dish for a tasty alternative to American rice.
You can buy basmati rice wholesale if you're looking to stock up.
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