Rice forms the foundation of Indian cuisine, with multiple indigenous varieties cultivated across the nation known for aromatic flavors and nutritional value. As rice features in everything from daily meals to elaborate biryanis, choosing the best rice in India that meets cooking needs, taste preferences and health goals is key.
This blog aims to help readers discover the diversity of premium rice options available in India and how to select the best rice in India based on recommended varieties like aged basmati, sona masoori, boiled rice etc. We compare established brands like Daawat, India Gate, Fortune, Kohinoor and evaluate factors like aging, grain quality, purity, aroma and texture across basmati, raw rice, idli rice and more. Read on for an epicurean journey through best rice varieties in India!
The India Gate Basmati Rice Bag Mogra Broken Rice is a high-quality broken basmati rice grown in the foothills of the Himalayas. With its rich aroma and fluffy texture when cooked, it makes for delicious rice preparations like biryani, pulao, fried rice etc.
The India Gate Mogra Broken Basmati Rice is one of the best broken rice varieties available in India. Grown in the Himalayan region, it retains the core qualities of premium basmati in terms of fragrance, texture and taste. The grains are medium-sized and the rice is smooth, non-sticky and soft once cooked. It works very well for a variety of rice dishes from basic steamed rice to elaborate biryanis and pulaos. The rich aroma adds wonderful flavor to any preparation. Overall an excellent choice for daily cooking needs as well as special occasions.
The Amazon Brand Vedaka Idli Rice is a special variety of rice processed specifically to make soft and fluffy idlis and dosas. This rice is sorted and cleaned multiple times to remove any impurities. The grains are thick and medium in size, absorbing water well and aiding in fermentation to result in perfect idlis and dosas.
The Vedaka Idli Rice from Amazon is one of the most popular choices among South Indian households for preparing idlis and dosas. The rice is uniformly sized with a nice thick grain that becomes soft and fluffy upon soaking and fermentation. This gives perfect results every time you steam your idlis or make dosas on the tawa. The multiple cleaning process also ensures there is no grit or impurities in the rice. An excellent convenient option for your daily breakfast needs.
The India Gate Basmati Rice Rozana is an everyday basmati rice variety that retains the core aromatic qualities of premium basmati rice. The long slender grains with subtle aroma are the result of special aging techniques. The grains remain non-sticky when cooking and have excellent retention of texture.
The India Gate Rozana Basmati Rice makes for an excellent regular-use basmati rice option for Indian homes. It balances affordability with good quality aged basmati that is pleasantly aromatic and cooks up light and fluffy. The texture is non-sticky so the grains separate well with a fine balance of softness and bite. We would recommend this rice for regular cooking across rice preparations like pulav, fried rice etc. where the aromatic basmati flavor makes a difference.
Daawat Rozana Gold Basmati Rice is an everyday premium variety that offers rich aroma and great taste perfect for regular cooking. The aging process brings out the best flavour and texture qualities expected from a basmati. The rice remains non-sticky when cooking with fine slender grains.
The Daawat Rozana Gold Basmati Rice deserves its gold standard tag as a high quality affordable everyday basmati. The aging process gives it a wonderful aromatic flavor that elevates regular rice preparations. The texture is fantastic – long fine grains that cook up light and fluffy remaining non-sticky. We would recommend this for daily cooking across a variety of dishes like plain rice, pulavs etc where the aroma and taste makes a difference.
The Daawat Super Basmati Rice is a premium long grain variety carefully aged to bring out a rich aroma and flavor. The exquisite quality aged grains are slender and long that remain non-sticky when cooked. It has rich nutty flavor perfect for biryani and special occasions.
Among the finest basmati rice options in India, the Daawat Super lives up to its name with fantastic aging that gives it a rich nutty flavor and aroma. The cooked grains taste simply wonderful – remaining loose, light and fluffy with a delightful bite. It works amazingly well in biryani and pulao lifting their flavor tremendously. If you enjoy aromatic flavorsome basmati, this one definitely deserves a place in your kitchen.
Amazon Brand Vedaka Sona Masoori is a premium variety of lightweight and aromatic raw rice from Andhra Pradesh. The rice has a unique fragrance and subtle taste, with medium slender grains that have high absorptivity of flavors.
The Vedaka Sona Masoori is undoubtedly one of the most popular premium rice varieties in India known for its unique taste and aroma. What’s outstanding is how the rice manages to be lightweight and fluffy while retaining texture and being able to readily absorb flavors. This versatility across dishes like biryani, pulav etc while lending its own fragrance makes it a must-have rice for the kitchen.
The India Gate Tibar Basmati Rice is a unique long aged basmati variety with a nutty flavor and subtle aroma. The exquisite grains are extra long with a slender shape for extreme lightness in texture. The aging technique brings the fragrant aromas and taste perfectly.
The India Gate Tibar rice deserves special mention for its uniquely understated nutty basmati aroma that is delicately fragrant. The extraordinary aging process brings this out while also ensuring that the cooked rice grains have exemplary texture – they remained loose and separate with the perfect bite. This gourmet basmati rice is perfect for flavorful biryanis and pulaos, gently infusing its fragrance into every spoonful for a delightful experience. Definitely a must try!
The Vedaka Kolam Rice from Amazon Brand is a quality boiled and steamed rice known for its amazing taste, lightweight non-sticky texture and easy digestion. The rice is processed through steam-boiling that makes it suitable for everyday consumption including for kids and elders.
The Amazon Brand Vedaka Kolam Rice deserves attention for bringing the traditional method of steam-boiling rice to ensure maximum flavor and micro-nutrient retention. Unlike plain raw rice, the pre-boiled kolam rice not only has a wonderful flaky texture but is also gentler on the stomach. We highly recommend this for children, elderly people and those convalescing where easy digestion is key while enjoying classic rice taste and mouthfeel.
The India Gate Gobindobhog is a special rice variety grown in the Govindbhog region east India near Kalimpong. The rice has a unique sweet aroma and amazing taste owing to the soils and aging process followed. It is a connoiseur’s delight with delicate slender grains perfect for subtle flavoured dishes.
In the wide world of rice, India Gate Gobindobhog certainly deserves special mention for an outstanding culinary experience. Whats incredible is how this rice from Govindobhog region retains such a wonderful sweet aroma and develops a unique slow-release flavor and taste. The cooked rice grains match up with their extraordinary finesse – remaining separate with a delicate bite. If you consider yourself an rice connesieur, don’t miss out on India Gate’s Gobindobhog!
Kohinoor Super Value Basmati Rice is an exceptionally affordable non-sticky aromatic daily-use basmati rice offering rich aroma and great taste. The fine slender grains are the result of traditional aging methods bringing out premium qualities expected of basmati rice at incredible value.
When it comes to value-for-money, Kohinoor Super Basmati Rice punches way above its weight class to deliver a premium basmati experience at an unbeatable price. While keeping affordability as key focus, the rice does not compromise on core basmati qualities – aging the rice well for a floral aroma and retaining a non-stick fluffy texture through the medium slender cooked grains. Definitely our top value choice!
Product | Grain Type | Key Features |
---|---|---|
India Gate Mogra | Broken basmati | Rich aroma, Smooth texture |
Vedaka Idli Rice | Thick short grain | Fluffy idlis/dosas, Soaks well |
India Gate Rozana | Long grain basmati | Pleasant aroma, Non-sticky |
Daawat Rozana Gold | Slender basmati | Aged, Rich aroma, Affordable |
Daawat Super | Extra long basmati | 12+ months aged, Rich flavor |
Vedaka Sona Masoori | Medium slender grain | Unique aroma, Fluffy, Absorbs flavor |
India Gate Tibar | Extra long slender grain | Delicate aroma, Fine texture |
Vedaka Kolam Rice | Long grain | Pre-cooked, Soft and fluffy |
India Gate Gobindobhog | Extra long slender | Sweet aroma, Amazing taste |
Kohinoor Super Basmati | Long slender | Everyday basmati, Great value |
When choosing the best rice in India, focus on:
Premium Basmati – Aged ‘extra-long’ basmati rice varieties like India Gate Super, Daawat premium. Offers premium fragrance, flavor and texture perfect for special dishes and feasts.
Everyday Basmati – Basmati rice aged minimally for retaining fragrance and non-stickiness at an affordable level e.g. India Gate Rozana, Daawat Rozana Gold etc. for daily cooking
Raw rice – Premium lightweight varieties like Sona Masoori known for delicate flavor and easy cooking digestion suitable for regular meals, variety rice etc.
Boiled rice – Pre-cooked rice like Amazon’s Vedaka Kolam rice offer easy digestion while having great taste and texture. Ideal for kids, elders and health needs.
Brown rice – Unpolished wholegrain rice retained natural bran offers more nutrition ideal for health focused diets
Idli rice – Special rice varieties processed for softness and ability to ferment perfectly for making idlis and dosa batter
Storage: Store uncooked rice in cool, dry area in airtight container away from moisture and pests. Refrigeration can extend life. Don’t store cooked rice for over 1 day even refrigerated.
Washing: Its ideal to thoroughly wash rice under running water to remove grit and excess surface starch before cooking. Soak for 30 minutes for best results with aged basmati. This helps enhance taste, texture and aids digestibility.
Cooking: Rice-to-water ratios and timing vary by variety so follow pack instructions. Allow steam release before fluffing rice with fork. Retaining moisture affects texture and causes stickiness.
Reheating: Its best to use freshly cooked rice. To reheat, use microwave and ensure rice is very hot throughout before serving. Avoid excess water addition that makes texture too moist and sticky.
How to assess quality: Check grain appearance and aroma. Well aged basmati offers notes of herbs, nuts, flowers rather than raw grassy smell. Cook sample portion to assess authentic fluffy, non-gummy texture when choosing new variety.
The best basmati rice options in India are:
These basmati rice varieties from reputed brands Daawat and India Gate are aged to perfection resulting in aromatic fragrance, great flavor and perfect fluffy non-sticky texture when cooked. The aging elevates the natural sweetness in the grains. They are versatile picks suited to everyday meals as well as special biryanis and pulaos.
Some of the best rice cooker brands in India are Panasonic, Philips, Prestige, Butterfly and Bajaj. Features to evaluate include cooking capacity, keep warm functionality, ease of cleaning and automatic switch-off. Material wise aluminum and stainless steel models heat up faster and distribute evenly. Look for cookers with proper customization of water levels and cooking duration to suit rice varieties being used.
For daily use, lightweight and aromatic raw rice varieties like India Gate Rozana Basmati Rice or Daawat Rozana Gold Basmati Rice are good options. Their subtle fragrance adds nice flavor to everyday rice preparations be it pulav or basic steamed rice. Boiled rice like Vedaka Kolam Rice offers easy digestibility too. Sona Masoori rice offers delicate aroma and Surti Kolam provides decent affordable nutrition for regular use.
The best rice brands in India are India Gate, Daawat, Kohinoor based on consistent quality, taste and premium aging standards across varieties. They offer excellent authentic basmati along with other rice to suit various cooking needs.
Both Sona Masoori and Basmati rice are outstanding varieties. Sona Masoori is a premium lightweight aromatic raw rice known for delicate flavor. Basmati is more strongly aromatic and a bit heavier owing to the aging process but with superb texture. Choose Sona Masoori for regular meals and Basmati for special occasions.
Aged premium basmati rice with long slender grains and strong aroma like Daawat Super Basmati or India Gate Super Basmati work best for biryani and absorb the best flavors. Longer grain basmati better retains texture after cooking during the biryani preparation process.
Yes, boiled or pre-cooked rice like the Vedaka Kolam boiled rice is healthier than raw rice since the grain is partially gelatinized making it gentler for digestion versus raw while retaining nutrients better than parboiled rice. It offers benefits for all especially kids and elderly.
Brown rice and red coloured rice varieties have lowest carb content compared to polished white rice since the fiber rich bran is retained providing whole grain goodness. Popular low-carb brown rice options are India Gate and Daawat brown basmati rice.
Rice is indispensable to Indian cuisine. Choosing the right rice variety can make or break the final dish. Here is a quick guide to using the different types of rice:
Basmati Rice – The king of rice in India. The aged, aromatic long-grain basmati is a must for biryani and pulao. It is also used for simpler steamed rice and in nominal amounts in meals to elevate flavor. Popular varieties are Daawat & India Gate basmati along with everyday affordable options like India Gate Rozana or Daawat Rozana Gold.
Boiled Rice – Pre-cooked rice is very popular in South Indian and East Indian cuisines for everyday meals because of its lightness and easy digestion. Rice varieties like Amazon’s Vedaka Kolam Rice lend the perfect fluffy yet separate texture to foods like lemon rice. Daily rice requirements can be easily met whether through steamed boiled rice preparations or using them as main accompaniment to lentils, vegetables etc. in combo meals.
Idli Rice – This specially processed short-grain rice variety helps make the softest, lightest idlis and dosas. Popular all over South India, the medium thick grains aid in smooth fermentation to create perfect batter. Between Daawat, India Gate and Vedaka – there are enough good idli rice options to help you start your day right!
Brown Rice – The high fiber whole grain varieties offer more nutrition and manages glucose response well. Its growing popular as a health rice option that offers nutty flavor and chewy texture lending well in dishes like coconut rice or mushroom fried rice especially for weight or diabetes conscious food choices.
Sona Masoori – The aromatic lightweight Sona Masoori raw rice remains the darling of aromatic rice lovers for daily use. Its fluffy, separate grains that beautifully soak up spicing makes wonderful options like tomato rice, tamarind rice along with regular steamed rice preparations for daily meals throughout India.
Here is what an everyday Rice diet should look like for balanced nutrition:
Following these recommendations on how to include various rice purposefully in Indian dieting ensures you meet all nutritional goals, digestion needs and flavor desires from this humble yet mighty grain!
Rice forms an intrinsic part of Indian cuisine, with aromatic and fluffy varieties like basmati occupying an irresistible spot in our hearts and meals. This blog helps identify the best basmati and other rice varieties in India by reputed brands that retain authentic aging, texture and flavor attributes. We provide a framework to choose the right kind of premium rice that meets your cooking style, diet needs and taste preferences so that you can prepare restaurant style meals right at home!
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