What Are the Varieties of Rice? A Comprehensive Introduction to Common Types of Rice

Rice is sweet in flavor and neutral in nature, with effects such as tonifying the middle and replenishing qi, strengthening the spleen and nourishing the stomach, and benefiting essence and strengthening the will. It is hailed as the first of the five grains and is one of the staple foods of the people of our country. So, what are the varieties of rice?

Rice has three varieties: japonica rice, indica rice and glutinous rice.

1. Japonica rice

It is a type of rice and a common staple food. It is cultivated in all parts of China, with a cultivation history of more than 6,900 years, and is one of the specialties of Chinese food culture. It is mainly produced in Northeast China. The grains are generally oval or round, plump and thick, with a cross-section close to round, a length-to-width ratio of less than two, a waxy white color, and a transparent or semi-transparent appearance. The texture is hard yet resilient, and after cooking it is highly sticky and oily, soft and tasty.

2. Indica rice

Rice made from non-glutinous indica-type paddy is called indica rice. The grains are slender or oblong, with the longer ones measuring more than 7 millimeters in length. After steaming and cooking, the cooked rice yield is high, the stickiness is relatively low, and the grain quality is relatively brittle, making it easy to break during processing. The cross-section is flat and round, and the color is mostly white and transparent, though some are semi-transparent and opaque. According to the paddy harvest season, it is divided into early indica rice and late indica rice.

3. Glutinous rice

Also known as jiangmi, it is milky white and opaque, becomes transparent after cooking, is highly sticky and expands little. It is generally not used as a staple food, but is mostly used to make cakes, zongzi, yuanxiao and the like, as well as a raw material for brewing wine. Glutinous rice also has indica and japonica types.

No matter which type of rice it is, the nutrition is very rich, so everyone should be sure to eat more rice.