Basmati Rice & White Rice: A Closer Look

Difference-between-Basmati-Rice-White-Rice

Walked into a store and looked at the Rice section and wondered what to buy? Well, you are not alone. Many are confused looking at the array of rice varieties, with different price tags, different shapes and colours. Let’s get to know about a couple of rice varieties. To start with, you could look at two of the most common varieties used for cooking, White Rice and Basmati Rice.

Different Varieties of Rice

Rice is a delicious alternative to other carbs like potatoes and pasta. Additionally, it is gluten-free, which makes it a healthy alternative to those with gluten allergies. White rice is among the most common varieties of rice grown and consumed across the world. The bran, husk and germ are removed to give a polished look. Basmati Rice, also processed the same way, is predominantly grown in India (up to 70%) and Pakistan. Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Nepal also cultivate local variants of Basmati Rice, albeit in very small quantities. White rice, being a staple across countries, does not have any specific aroma. However, Basmati Rice is long, slender and carries a distinct aroma and taste.

Classification Of Rice

As per APEDA, Basmati rice classification is given only if it has an average pre-cooked milled rice length of 6.61 mm. It also needs to have an average precooked milled rice breadth of up to 2 mm, among other parameters. All other rice shall be generally classified as non Basmati and further divided based on a few other parameters.

The biggest differentiating factor between White Rice and Basmati rice is its typical pandan-like flavour. This is caused by the aroma compound called 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline. Basmati grains naturally contain about 0.09 ppm of this aromatic chemical compound. This level is about 12 times as much as non-basmati rice varieties. Due to the unique soft slender grain with an aromatic flavour, Basmati is always priced higher than normal White rice. In fact, it carries an elegance that makes it most suitable for rich rice dishes like Pulao and Biriyanis.

Panicle Worldwide is one of the largest exporters of Rice in India. We specialise in export of all Rice varieties, Basmati & Non Basmati, ensuring highest quality products at the most competitive rates.