17 Most Common Types Of Rice – A Brief History of Rice

Types of rice varieties

One of my favorite winter comfort foods is risotto, and I love to order it when I’m in Italy. However, since I haven’t found a restaurant in my area that serves a decent one, I either make it myself or ask my kids to make it for me. Risotto is one of the best things about winter, but can equally be enjoyed during the warmer months.

For those of you who don’t know, rice is the seed of oryza sativa, and it’s the most important staple in eastern and southern Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies. After corn, it’s the most produced grain on earth. When the Arabs colonized northern and western Africa, they introduced rice cultivation.

However, it almost came to a halt after the second colonial period, which is silly, because in 1203 it was singularly responsible for conquering famine in Africa. While I realize that one of the basic requirements for cultivating rice is a lot of water, and Central Africa would be ideal, it can actually grow just about anywhere – even against mountains.

In Africa’s favor, it’s also labor intensive, and thus labor costs can’t be high – again, perfect for Africa. Traditionally, rice is cultivated by flooding fields just after the seedlings have been planted, or set, and this requires good planning, damming, and channeling. Of course, this is bad for weeds and vermin, so it’s a win-win situation, really.


  • Rice is milled using a rice huller to remove the chaff (the outer husks), and the remaining grain is called brown rice.
  • Removing the bran and germ results in white rice.
  • White rice keeps longer but is less healthy because it lacks some important nutrients.
  • In a limited diet that does not supplement the rice, brown rice helps to prevent the disease beriberi.
  • White rice is sometimes buffed with glucose or talc powder, or it can be parboiled or processed into flour.
  • White rice is sometimes enriched by adding nutrients (like the ones lost during the milling process).
  • The cheapest method of enriching rice is to add a powdered mixture of nutrients that will easily wash off (in the U.S., this requires a label warning against rinsing).
  • There are other methods of enriching rice – like applying nutrients directly to the grain or coating the grain with a water-insoluble substance that is resistant to washing.
  • When rice is boiled or steamed, it absorbs water and becomes soft and chewy. After cooking, oil or butter is often added to prevent it from becoming sticky.


  • Raw rice is ground into flour and used to make things like rice milk, noodles, and sake.
  • Rice flour is gluten free, which makes it great for people who are gluten intolerant.
  • Raw rice can be soaked and sprouted and is very healthy and popular among raw-foodists.
  • Rice is a reasonably good source of protein, which is why it’s used as a staple in so many parts of the world. However, it isn’t a complete protein, so if you’re a vegetarian, you need to add nuts or beans.
  • You probably know that rice can be popped or puffed and turned into cereals, rice cakes, and more.



Rice was first cultivated in the Yangtze River valley, and archaeologists have discovered how wild rice was finally domesticated and cultivated around 12,000 B.C. Later, two varieties, japonica and indica, were grown in central China. The first time anyone cultivated rice in India was only around 2000 B.C. in Assam and Nepal, where wild rice is still growing and being used.

The first time rice was written about was in the Yajurveda (1500 B.C. onward); there’s a popular Indian idiom that gives advice on how rice should be cooked: “like two brothers, close together but not stuck together.” It’s also a sign of prosperity and fertility, which is probably why it’s often thrown at weddings.

Most of the world’s rice is produced in China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Japan; Asian farmers produce 92% of the world’s total rice production. The best quality rice evidently comes from Punjab.


Rice has been cultivated in Africa for about 3,500 years. Between 1500 and 800 B.C., rice propagated from the Niger River Delta (where it was first growing on this continent) to Senegal, but it never really grew further than its original birthplace. African rice disappeared from the scene because Asian rice was planted when the Arabs took over in 500 to 1000 A.D.


Oryza sativa was introduced in the Middle East during the Greek periods (Hellenic and Parthian), and both the Greeks and Romans wrote about it. Just after the birth of Christ, rice was growing in the Po Valley in Italy. With the advent of Islam, people began cultivating rice in the south of Iraq, toward Nisibin, and into the Volga valley. In Israel, rice was growing in the Jordan river around that time. Today, rice is also grown in Yemen.


The Moors brought Asian rice to Spain when they invaded in the 10th century and cultivated it in Valencia and Majorca. Cultivation seems to have stopped after the Christians took back the country, but rice is still grown there today. Rice was cultivated in Sicily when the Arabs were ruling there, and it was growing there long before it was cultivated in Lombardy and Pisa. Soon after the Renaissance, rice cultivation was introduced in France.


The Spaniards and Portuguese first planted rice in the Caribbean and South America (Brazil), and it was introduced to Mexico in the 1520s in Veracruz.


  • Rice was introduced to the U.S. from Madagascar in 1694 and was first cultivated in South Carolina and Georgia. The West African slaves who worked on the rice plantations were very knowledgeable in matters pertaining to rice. When slavery was abolished, the industry became much less profitable, and rice cultivation eventually died out in the first years of the 1900s. Today, there is exactly one rice plantation left in South Carolina, the Mansfield Plantation, and it’s a fascinating place to visit because it still has its original winnowing barn and rice mill.
  • In southern Arkansas, Louisiana, and east Texas, rice has been cultivated since the mid-1800s, and Cajun farmers grew rice in the wet marshes. While they were at it, they also farmed crawfish.
  • During the California gold rush, rice was planted in California when Chinese laborers arrived and started to grow small amounts for themselves. Commercial production only began in 1912, but by 2006, California produced the second-largest rice crop in the U.S.


  • Long-grain – Remains separate, light, and fluffy when cooked.
  • Medium-grain – Becomes stickier and is great for making puddings or Italian risotto or Spanish arrossos.
  • Short-grain – Short, plump grains become sticky and clumpy when cooked.



Arborio rice

Most commonly used for risotto, arborio rice is a plump Italian short-grain rice with a unique white dot in the middle of the grain. It contains a significant amount of amylopectin, a sticky starch that gives risotto its creamy texture.


indian basmati rice

Basmati is a fragrant long-grain rice grown in India and Pakistan. Aging it for about one year after harvest gives the rice its nutty flavor. Serve it with curry or simple vegetables, but make sure to soak it for at least a half hour before cooking.


black rice

Also called forbidden rice or emperor’s rice, Chinese black rice gets its deep purple color from the antioxidant anthocyanin, which is also found in blueberries and eggplant. This medium-grain rice is firm yet tender when cooked, perfect for a pilaf or other side dish.


bomba spanish rice

Bomba, or Valencia, rice is a medium-grain variety commonly used in Spanish paella. Although it absorbs more liquid than long-grain rice, it doesn’t get sticky like short-grain rice.


brown rice

Brown rice has had its husk removed but retains the germ and bran, which are full of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It takes longer to cook than white rice and has a chewier texture. Available in both short- and long-grain varieties, it can be substituted for white rice in most recipes.


carnaroli rice

Like arborio, carnaroli rice is most often used for risotto. It is grown in northern Italy and known for its high starch content, firm grains, and creamy texture.


carolino rice

A medium-grain variety grown in Portugal, carolino rice maintains a firm yet tender texture when cooked. It also absorbs colors and flavors and is excellent in tomato-based and seafood dishes typical of Portuguese cuisine.


kalijira rice

Also known as baby basmati, this medium-grain rice comes from the Bengal region of India. It is best cooked with the pasta method—boiled in a large pot of water and then drained of excess liquid.


jasmine rice

The long, translucent grains of Jasmine rice become soft and sticky when cooked. It originates from Thailand and has a floral aroma that is more subtle than basmati’s fragrance. Wash before cooking and serve with Chinese and Thai dishes.


parboiled rice

Parboiled rice is popular in some countries. It’s steamed or parboiled while it’s still brown, which allows some nutrients (like thiamine) to enter the grain itself. Parboiling causes gelatinization of the starch in the grain, and the rice becomes less brittle. The color will become more yellowish. Once it has been parboiled, the rice is either dried and milled or used normally. It can also be used as brown rice. It doesn’t stick to the pot when cooked. Nuka, or rice bran, is popular in Japan and other parts of Asia, which is great because then no part of the grain is wasted.

Red Cargo

red cargo

Like brown rice, this long-grain variety from Thailand has only its outer husk removed, giving it a reddish-brown hue and more nutrients than white rice. Its chewy texture and nutty flavor make it an excellent choice for pairing with curries and stir-fries.


rosematta rice

A reddish medium-grain rice, rosematta also retains its bran layer, although this variety originates from India. It has a robust earthy flavor perfect for stews, curries, and other meaty dishes.


sticky rice

Primarily grown in Southeast and East Asia, sticky rice has a high starch content that results in a sticky, gluey texture when cooked. It is often used for sweet dishes such as rice pudding, and is especially good cooked with coconut milk and served with fresh mango.


sushi rice

This Japanese short-grain rice comes in both white and brown varieties. The translucent grains become firm and sticky when cooked due to a higher starch content, making them ideal for sushi.

Vialone Nano

vialone nano

Yet another popular option for risotto, Vialone Nano has been protected by the EU so that it can only be grown within the province of Verona, Italy. It absorbs a lot of liquid for that classic creamy risotto texture yet maintains its shape when cooked.


white rice

Long-grain white rice is one of the most popular and versatile types available. It is milled to remove the bran and germ, resulting in a less nutritious but fluffier and milder rice.


wild rice

Wild rice actually belongs to an entirely different genus than other varieties. It is the seed of a grass native to the Great Lakes region of the U.S. With a toasty flavor and unique chewy texture, this protein-rich grain is perfect for mushroom soup, casseroles, and pilaf, especially when mixed with one or two other types of rice.

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