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Rice is one of the most widely eaten grains around the world, with China taking the lead for the most rice-eating. In 2019 to 2020, China consumed a staggering 143million tonnes of rice, followed closely by India which enjoyed 100million tonnes. Rice, although a relatively humble food, requires very specific conditions in order to really flourish. It has to be grown in a field flooded with several inches of water, known as a paddy field.
Unsurprisingly, China and India are also the top producers of rice in the entire world.
In addition to its delicious and versatile flavour, rice comes in dozens of varieties for the consumer to choose from.
The most popular varieties of rice are indica, japonica and aromatic, of which japonica is the most highly priced.
Japonica rice is predominantly eaten across east Asia in Japan, China and Korea, and is the ‘sticky’ type of rice found in sushi dishes.
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How to cook perfect rice
For this foolproof recipe to cook rice perfectly every time, you will need:
- 2 cups of water
- Half-a-teaspoon of salt
- One tablespoon butter or oil (optional)
- One cup long grain white rice
Start by bringing the water to boil in a medium saucepan.