An Introduction to the Appearance and Characteristics of the Tainan 11 Rice Variety

Taiwan, China's food environment should count as diverse, and rice is only one part of it, yet it is the one with the most strategic position; how small farmers choose a good rice variety is usually still decided by the market. Unless the rice they grow is to be given away for free, they still have to choose the variety to transplant from the perspective of the market.

From the consumer's point of view, japonica rice being superior to indica rice does not change, but indica rice also has its own unique market. Kaohsiung 139, 145 and 147 along with Tainan 11 are the top choices (japonica rice), while for indica rice it is Taichung sen 10; all of these have a decent market; of course there are still exceptions, such as personal preference.

At present, many of the small farmers being assisted grow first and then look for a market. This approach is actually somewhat risky. The market for japonica rice is large while the market for indica rice is small, and often quite a few small farmers commit to friendly-land farming but end up growing rice the market will not accept. This outcome is extremely discouraging for small farmers practicing friendly-land farming.

The Kaohsiung-Pingtung area has a hot climate and high humidity, and the soil is mostly sandy (alluvial soil from the Gaoping River, Donggang River and Linbian River). With two harvests a year plus one crop of red beans, Tainan 11 should be the top-choice japonica rice. After the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011, this japonica rice variety was purchased by the state and sent to Japan for disaster relief. At that time, Japanese people accustomed to eating rice came into contact with this rice for the first time and were conquered by its texture, marveling at it as heavenly rice, and so this rice, which had originally not been favored domestically, instantly saw its value rise.

Of course, the taro aroma characteristic of Kaohsiung 139, 145 and 147 makes their yield and popularity no less than Tainan 11. Their growing areas are mainly the high-latitude Hualien-Taitung production region. Data from the Agriculture and Food Agency show that domestic annual rice production is about 1.2 million tons, but the classification of rice varieties is lacking. Which rice to choose? It still depends on the grower's personal preference and market demand, and basically it still does not go beyond the four high-quality rices mentioned above.

Of course, if making rice foods (rice cakes, rice noodles, flat rice noodles and other rice products), Taichung sen 10 is the high-quality rice selected by the Agriculture and Food Agency. Some people with special constitutions also cook indica rice together with japonica rice, or use it to enhance the texture of rice foods, similar to the concept of blended coffee beans.