There is a long-standing rice culture in Vietnam. Vietnamese rice consistently ranks among the top exporters of tasty and high-quality rice worldwide thanks to its extensive experience in cultivating and expanding agriculture.
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The Vietnamese rice market is always busy and attracts a lot of interest from customers both domestically and internationally because Vietnam is one of the world’s top exporters of rice. The majority of rice varieties, from premium to popular, get positive reviews from consumers.
As rich and varied as it is, we advise you to select one of the top varieties of Vietnamese rice listed below to truly taste the essence of the pearl of heaven and earth.
What is rice?
Rice is a product obtained from the rice plant, which is also one of the staple foods of nearly half of the world’s population.
Rice is often processed into dishes such as rice, porridge or ground into rice flour to make cakes and vermicelli. After the rice is milled and the husk is removed, the rice grains are obtained. Rice grains often have many different colors, such as brown, dark red and most commonly white.
Rice grains contain many nutrients such as protein, fiber, starch and compounds that are beneficial to health. From ancient times to the present day, rice has become the “soul” of many different cuisines, typically Vietnam.
Rice Classification
Rice is usually classified based on different colors, shapes and sizes, including 3 main types
- Short grain rice: is a type of rice with a slightly round shape, when cooked it has the softest and stickiest texture of all types of rice.
- Medium grain rice: is a type of rice with relatively short grains, after cooking it has a soft texture, but is not as sticky as short grain rice.
- Long grain rice: is a type of rice with thinner grains, four times longer than wide and contains less starch. When cooked it usually has a fluffy and loose texture.
Types of rice?
1. White rice (refined rice)
Like black, red, or purple rice, white rice is likewise a whole grain. To make the rice grain brighter, this variety of rice is frequently polished after its husk, bran, and germ have been removed.
White rice loses a lot of its nutrients, such as lipids, minerals, and vitamins, during the milling and polishing process. White rice is therefore frequently less nutrient-dense than brown rice.
2. Brown rice (whole grain rice)
Brown rice is a type of rice that only has the outer husk removed and retains the bran – which contains many nutrients and trace elements.
Brown rice contains essential nutrients, including starch, fiber, protein, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B3 and other important trace elements such as calcium, selenium, magnesium or iron.
Brown rice usually has 4 main types, including:
- Brown rice: is white rice that has been milled, only the husk is removed and the bran is left intact.
- Sticky brown rice: is often used as an ingredient for the dish of golden sticky rice – a famous specialty, with many nutritional values for health. Types of sticky brown rice include goose sticky rice, charcoal sticky rice, fragrant sticky rice, …
- Black brown rice: this is a type of rice that is especially useful in supporting the treatment of diseases such as cancer or cardiovascular disease. It is considered a “super grain” because it contains many essential nutrients such as fiber, vitamins and plant compounds, especially low in sugar.
- Red rice: is a suitable choice for those who are on a diet, vegetarian, losing weight or beautifying. Using red rice in your daily diet not only provides you with all the necessary nutrients but also gives you a slim, healthy and beautiful figure.
3. Black rice
Black rice is referred to as “forbidden” rice. The Chinese emperors were the only ones allowed to consume this rice in their daily meals many years ago. Today, though, you can eat this rice like a king or queen with a few clicks on internet retailers or a short trip to the grocery shop.
Short-grain rice that becomes purple when cooked is called black rice. Anthocyanin, an antioxidant also present in blueberries and black raspberries, gives the rice its color.
4. Sticky rice
Sticky rice is gluten-free, just like any other rice. Its sticky texture, as its name implies, makes it simple to form into rice balls.
Amylopectin starch is present in sticky rice, also referred to as sweet rice. Due to its sweet flavor, it is frequently used in desserts.
White, purple, black, and brown are some of the colors of sticky rice, which is widely available throughout Asia.
5. Red rice
Himalayan red rice is an alternative to brown or white rice if you’re tired of them. Typically long-grained, this variety of rice combines a wide range of ingredients to create a pleasing, distinctive flavor. Himalayan red rice can be used to make salads and fried rice.
Bhutanese red rice is another variety of rice with a lovely texture and often short grains. It can be added to dishes or used in pilafs.
6. Wild Rice
Wild Rice, also known as Indian Rice, is native to North America. At first glance, this wild rice is not rice but a type of grass that grows along waterways.
Wild rice is chewy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a pure and wild flavor, especially rich in protein and a variety of antioxidants.
7. Broken rice
The term “broken rice” refers to rice grains that break while being dried, transported, or ground. Because the embryo and bran are still intact, broken rice grains nevertheless offer a lot of nourishment despite their irregularity.
When the milling machine separates the husk during the milling and screening process, it inadvertently breaks the top portion of the rice grain, known as the broken grain. Farmers would separate whole and broken rice using hand sieves in the absence of an automatic sorting system.
Along with Vietnam, broken rice is used in Thailand, Bangladesh, and many other Southeast Asian countries for a variety of uses, including cooking, raising livestock, turning it into powder for cooking and cleaning, and the leather and cosmetics industries.
8. Purple rice
Purple rice has the scientific name Oryza rufipogon, belonging to the species Oryza sativa L. In the spring crop, purple rice grows for about 127 – 142 days and in the summer crop it is 105 – 115 days. The average height of the purple rice plant is 98 – 115cm, hard. The leaves of the purple rice are dark green or purple. The rice grains are characterized by being firm, black or dark red, high in nutrients and when cooked into rice, they are soft, sticky and very fragrant.
This type of rice has a characteristic dark purple color, containing more protein and fat than other types of rice. Purple rice is not only sticky and fragrant but also extremely nutritious and beneficial for health.
9. Fragrant Rice
Fragrant rice includes Basmati rice, jasmine rice or other strongly scented rice. Fragrant rices often smell like roasted grain or popcorn, a very natural and attractive aroma. The 2-Acetyl-1-pyrroline in the rice grain is the factor that determines this characteristic aroma.
The taste and smell of fragrant rice often change from year to year, just like wine.
Some famous rice varieties in Vietnam
- ST24, ST25 rice (the best rice in the world).
- Cho Dao fragrant rice.
- Broken rice.
- Golden flower sticky rice
In short, there is no best rice, choose the rice that suits your taste because they all have health benefits.
Where to buy rice at a good price and high quality?
With the above outstanding effects, rice has become an indispensable part of today’s life.
To buy high quality rice, you need to choose a reputable supplier. VietDelta is one of the most reputable rosin suppliers.
VietDelta is committed to providing high quality products that meet international standards. A team of experienced, highly qualified, dedicated and enthusiastic experts are always ready to accompany. Help customers choose high quality rice particles that suit their needs.
If you want to learn more details, please contact VietDelta directly via hotline +84 028 3511 5601. Or visit the website https://vdelta.com.vn/ for advice and accurate quotes. Sincerely thank you!
