Arborio rice is a medium-grain rice that is wider in size and has a characteristic white dot at the centre of the grain. It is named after the town of Arborio in the Po Valley of Italy, where it is grown. Due to the high starch content of Arborio rice, it has a slightly chewy and sticky consistency and develops a creamy texture when cooked.
Arborio rice length: Medium grain
Arborio rice flavour: Creamy
What is arborio rice used for?: Risotto, rice pudding, and soup
When cooked, basmati rice grains are long, dry, and separate. They impart a pleasant, nutty aroma and flavour in any dish. It is common in Indian and Asian cuisine, but it can be used in a variety of flavourful recipes.
Basmati rice length: Long grain
Basmati rice flavour: Nutty
What is basmati rice used for?: Dal, curry, pilafs, and saffron rice
Black rice, also known as forbidden rice, gets its colour from anthocyanins, the same antioxidant that's found in blueberries and blackberries. Black rice features a mildly nutty, earthy flavour and has long been used in Chinese cuisine for its health-promoting properties.
Black rice length: Long grain
Black rice flavour: Mild, nutty, and earthy
What is black rice used for?: Bowls, rice pudding, soups, rice salads, and Chinese black rice cake
Bomba rice is a medium-grain rice that is cultivated in the Valencia region of Spain. It has a firm texture that lends itself well to Spanish paella, as it needs more liquid to absorb when cooking than other rice varieties.
Bomba rice length: Short
Bomba rice flavour: Mild; absorbs the flavour and aroma of the stock and spices it's cooked with
What is bomba rice used for?: Paella, Meditteranean dishes, and risotto
Brown rice is a whole grain that has its bran and germ layers still intact, which gives the rice its characteristic tan colour. It has a firmer texture and nuttier flavour than white rice, and it provides more fibre, vitamins, and minerals per serving. Brown rice can be substituted in any recipe that calls for white rice to increase its nutritional content.
Brown rice length: Long grain
Brown rice flavour: Mild, nutty, and earthy
What is brown rice used for?: Stuffing, bowls, casseroles, stir fries, and rice pilaf
Cultivated in Thailand, jasmine rice will bring an exotic flair and flavorful accent to any dish. It develops a pleasant floral aroma and a moist, soft texture when cooked. Use it when making a variety of traditional Asian dishes, including curries and stir-frys.
Jasmine rice length: Long grain
Jasmine rice flavour: Floral, nutty, and aromatic
What is jasmine rice used for?: Curry, stir-fry dishes, and other Thai and Asian dishes
Long grain white rice is the most common rice used in traditional American recipes, and it's also popular in Asian and Mexican cuisine. Compared to brown rice, it has a mild flavour and a lighter, fluffier texture when cooked. It also takes much less time to cook white rice than brown rice, but the trade-off is that it has a lower nutritional content due to its milling process. Carolina Gold rice, a variety that originated in Africa but can now only be found in the United States, is known as the grandfather of all of America’s long grains.
White rice length: Long grain
White rice flavour: Mild
What is white rice used for?: Stuffing, bowls, casseroles, stir-fry dishes, rice pilaf
Parboiled rice is rice that has been partially boiled in its inedible outer husk. This process improves the texture of the rice, cuts down on cooking time, and saves some of the original vitamins and minerals found in the rice. It is technically a cooking method for rice rather than a variety, so it can come in long, medium, and short grain rice varieties.
Parboiled rice length: Long, medium, or short
Parboiled rice flavour: Mildly nutty
What is parboiled rice used for?: Stuffing, bowls, casseroles, stir fries, and rice pilaf
Sticky rice, also known as glutinous rice or sweet rice, is a long grain white rice that has a low amylose starch content, which causes the rice to have an extremely sticky texture when steamed. It is grown mainly in Southeast and East Asia and is used in many savoury and sweet Asian dishes.
Sticky rice length: Long grain
Sticky rice flavour: Mild
What is sticky rice used for?: Dumplings, desserts, rice balls, and stuffing
Sushi rice is technically short-grain white or brown rice that has a soft, tender, and very sticky texture. Sushi rice is made by combining short-grain white or brown rice with sugar, salt, and vinegar. Often times short-grain white or brown grain rice will be labelled as "sushi rice" on its packaging to denote that it is ideal for using to roll sushi.
Sushi rice length: Short grain
Sushi rice flavour: Mild
What is sushi rice used for?: Sushi, rice balls, poke bowls, and sushi burritoes
There are two subtypes of Asian rice varieties: indica rice and japonica rice. Indica rice, which is more commonly eaten, features a long, slim grain and is aromatic whereas japonica rice features a short to medium grain, little aroma, and a distinct, sticky texture when cooked.