Jasmine rice, or ‘fragrant rice’, originated in Thailand in the 1950s. It has become the main part of Thailand consumers’ diet and remains one of the country’s biggest exports. If you are interested in this product, or even if you are willing to buy some, this article will provide any information that you need.
Contents
An overview of Jasmine rice
Before choosing the best quality Jasmine rice, here is some basic information about Jasmine rice:
History and Origin of Jasmine Rice
Jasmine rice, also referred to as “fragrant rice” or hom mali, was first cultivated in Thailand during the 1950s. It has since become a dietary staple in the country and one of its largest exports. This long-grain rice is known for its distinctive aroma, which is often compared to the scent of the pandan plant in Southeast Asia, though many Western consumers liken it to the smell of popcorn. Interestingly, the name “jasmine” does not come from its fragrance but rather from its color, which resembles the white petals of the jasmine flower.
How to choose the best quality jasmine rice
There are two types of Jasmine rice which are white rice and brown rice, both colors are similar to that of the Jasmine flower. Brown jasmine rice is high in fiber and nutrients, white Jasmine rice after being cooked has a slightly soft and sticky texture when at low or high temperatures.
Features of Jasmine rice
Both types have amazing smell and flavor, with brown rice being more appropriate for vegans and white rice being slightly better in taste.
Nutrition of Jasmine rice
Jasmine rice is known for its nutrient factors, especially rich in carbohydrates. Just 1 cup of 50 grams of brown Jasmine rice contains 300 calo.
It is also a good source of iron and vitamins B1 and B3, with some calcium and potassium. It contains vitamins B9, which can promote pregnancy health, and is rich in fiber which is good for human digestion. These health nutrition only apply to brown jasmine rice in whole-grain form.
Nutrition in Jasmine rice
About processed and removed bran-germ white jasmine rice, it strips its fiber and nutrients but still stays high in calories and carbohydrates grams.
Jasmine rice also has red, black and purple whole-grain form varieties and these types contain beneficial compounds with antioxidant properties which can protect your cells from getting damaged. You should follow jasmine rice recipe to know how to cook jasmine rice for the best nutrition.
Read more: Jasmine Rice Nutrition – Is It Good For Your Health?
How to Cook the Perfect Jasmine Rice
Cooking jasmine rice perfectly requires attention to water-to-rice ratios and cooking techniques that bring out its delicate, fragrant qualities. Jasmine rice, native to Thailand, is known for its subtle floral aroma and soft, slightly sticky texture when cooked. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making the perfect jasmine rice:
Step 1: Measure the Rice and Water
The key to fluffy jasmine rice is using less water than you would for other types of rice. For 1 cup of jasmine rice, use 1 1/4 cups of water. This ratio ensures that the rice stays soft and fluffy without becoming gummy. If you prefer a firmer texture, you can reduce the water slightly.
Step 2: Rinsing (Optional)
Rinsing jasmine rice is optional but can help remove excess surface starch, which may make the rice stickier. If you choose to rinse, place the rice in a bowl and swish it around under cold water until the water runs mostly clear. Drain thoroughly before cooking. If you rinse the rice, remember to reduce the water by 2 tablespoons to account for the extra moisture absorbed during rinsing.
Step 3: Cooking on the Stovetop
- Bring to a Boil: Place the measured water and rice in a medium saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Bring it to a rapid simmer over medium-high heat without covering.
- Simmer and Cover: Once it’s simmering, reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid, and let it cook undisturbed for about 12-15 minutes until all the water is absorbed.
- Rest: After cooking, remove from heat but keep the lid on. Let the rice rest for 10 minutes. This step is crucial as it allows the steam to finish cooking the grains evenly.
- Fluff and Serve: Use a fork or a rubber spatula to gently fluff the rice before serving.
Step 4: Cooking in a Rice Cooker
For those using a rice cooker, simply follow the same measurements—1 cup of jasmine rice to 1 1/4 cups of water—and start your cooker. The machine will automatically adjust cooking time based on its settings.
Tips for Perfect Jasmine Rice:
- No Need to Rinse: While rinsing is optional, it’s not necessary if you’re using clean packaged rice from stores. Skipping this step saves time without compromising fluffiness.
- Adjust Water Based on Preferences: If you like softer rice, add an extra tablespoon or two of water. For firmer grains, reduce water slightly.
- Freezing Leftovers: Cooked jasmine rice can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Reheat in a microwave with a splash of water for best results.
The process of producing Jasmine rice
In order to produce such quality Jasmine product, the below process shows how paddy turns into edible rice.
Step 1 – Clean: This step’s goal is to eliminate contaminants from the paddy field using various cleaning procedures so that it can fulfill the requirements of the next processing phases. Farmers clean rice by following these more precise steps:
- Sifting: Depending on the size and form of the rice, remove any impurities that are too tiny, too light, or too huge.
- Gravity grading: Separate contaminants from paddy using gravity grading equipment based on variations in volume, frictional force, suspension speed, as well as other physical parameters.
- Magnetic separation: Run the paddy through a magnetic field to remove the ferromagnetic contaminants, preventing damage towards the processing equipment.
Step 2 – Hulling & Separating: After being cleaned, the paddy enters the process of hulling and separating:
- To produce brown Jasmine rice, the farmers shall remove the hulls from the seed.
- To produce white rice, the paddy is milled properly to get rid of the germ and bran of the seed.
Production process
Step 3 – Milling: This is the process of separating and removing the husk and bran, transforming paddy into edible rice. It is accomplished with care to prevent excessive breakage and improve the quality of rice.
- The paddy is put through whitening and polishing machines to help lessen breakage and grain temperature throughout the whitening process. The physical properties of the paddy determine the machine configuration for processing rice. The breakage rate can be reduced by properly sequencing and arranging the equipment.
- We provide acceptable configuration and arrangement of machines in the process design based on the quality needed of the final product, assuring the quality level of the finished product while consuming less energy.
Step 4 – Further processing: Broken rice, bran powder, and discolored rice can still remain in the rice after being processed by the mill, which can affect the quality of the final product. Therefore, the ‘further process’ is used to remove them and make sure the rice is in high-quality condition.
- Rice grading: Separate broken rice that does not reach the quality standard. This step often requires the rice grader, which is able to separate rice into many grades.
- Polishing: Remove bran powder staying on the surface of the rice, so that the rice would look clean and bright.
- Color sorting: Separate discolored rice and white rice by using optoelectronic technology to ensure the quality of the final product.
A Comparison between Jasmine Rice vs. White Rice
Jasmine rice and white rice are two of the most popular types of rice consumed globally, but they differ in several key aspects, including flavor, texture, and nutritional content. Here’s a detailed comparison between the two:
| Feature | Jasmine Rice | White Rice |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Long-grain, fragrant rice | Can be short, medium, or long-grain |
| Aroma | Floral, popcorn-like aroma | Mild, starchy aroma |
| Texture | Fluffy yet slightly sticky when cooked | Varies: can be soft and sticky or firm and fluffy |
| Calories (per cup) | 181 kcal | 160-205 kcal (depending on variety) |
| Carbohydrates (per cup) | 39 grams | 36-44.6 grams (depending on variety) |
| Fiber (per cup) | 1 gram | 0.7-1 gram |
| Protein (per cup) | 4 grams | 4 grams |
| Fat (per cup) | 1 gram | 0 grams |
| Glycemic Index (GI) | Higher GI (68-80) | High GI (~70) |
| Nutritional Value | May contain more vitamins in whole-grain versions | Often enriched with vitamins and minerals |
Flavor and Aroma
Jasmine rice is known for its distinct floral and slightly sweet aroma, often compared to the smell of popcorn due to the presence of a compound called 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline. This fragrance makes it a favorite in Southeast Asian cuisine, particularly in Thailand. In contrast, white rice has a milder, more neutral aroma that is less noticeable during cooking.
Texture
When cooked, jasmine rice has a soft, fluffy texture with a slight stickiness that makes it ideal for pairing with curries and grilled meats. White rice can vary in texture depending on the grain length—short-grain white rice is stickier, while long-grain white rice tends to be fluffier and less sticky.
Nutritional Content
Nutritionally, both jasmine rice and white rice are quite similar when processed into their white forms. Both types are refined grains, meaning that they have had their husk, bran, and germ removed during processing. This results in a loss of fiber and nutrients. For example, both contain about 1 gram of fiber per serving and similar levels of protein (4 grams per cup). However, jasmine rice contains slightly more calories (181 kcal per cup) compared to long-grain white rice (160-205 kcal per cup, depending on the variety).
Whole-grain versions of jasmine rice (such as brown jasmine rice) offer more fiber and nutrients compared to white jasmine or white rice. Brown jasmine rice retains its bran and germ layers, providing more fiber (2 grams per serving) and essential vitamins like thiamine (B1) and niacin (B3). In comparison, white rice is often enriched with nutrients like iron, folate, thiamine, and niacin to compensate for the loss during processing.
Comparison of Jasmine Rice vs. White Rice
Glycemic Index
One notable difference between jasmine rice and white rice is their glycemic index (GI), which measures how quickly foods raise blood sugar levels. Jasmine rice tends to have a higher GI ranging from 68 to 80, depending on how it is prepared. White rice also has a high GI (~70), which means both types can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar levels. However, whole-grain varieties like brown jasmine rice have a lower GI due to their higher fiber content.
Culinary Uses
Jasmine rice is commonly used in Southeast Asian dishes like Thai curries or stir-fries due to its fragrant aroma and slightly sticky texture. It pairs well with flavorful dishes like grilled meats or spicy sauces. White rice is more versatile in terms of culinary applications; it can be used in a wide range of dishes from sushi to risottos or as a simple side dish.
Countries produce Jasmine rice
Jasmine rice is most prevalent in Asia and is basically grown in Thailand. It has been Thai national pride for decades, however, the popularity of Jasmine rice soon loses its association with Thailand, and now other countries are catching up such as Vietnam. Jasmine rice is also produced in Cambodia (phka rumduol or Cambodian jasmine rice), Laos.
Even though being raised in different nations, Jasmine rice still keeps its standard quality and distinctive features.
Countries producing Jasmine rice
Due to its adaptability for cultivating rice in hot and humid settings, white rice in bulk is heavily cultivated throughout South and Southeast Asia.
According to Volza 2024, China, Vietnam, and Thailand are the top three exporters of white rice in bulk countries.
Top 10 Jasmine rice Exporting Countries. Source: Volza
Thailand and Vietnam continue to be two of the world’s largest white rice bulk exporting countries. Several popular rice cultivars are currently dominating and gaining a large share of the rice market.
Depending on your needs or the market you’re targeting, there will be a variety of white rice in bulk. IR504 is the best option if you want to buy white rice in bulk for the lowest price. The only country that produces IR504 is Vietnam. Choose Jasmine (Thailand) or DT08 if you want to buy higher-quality white rice in quantity at a reasonable price (Vietnam).
An overview of wholesale prices of Jasmine rice
Wholesale prices of long grain Jasmine rice are affected by a lot of factors and differentiate among countries.
Factors affecting Jasmine wholesale price
- Popularity level:
At global competitions, Jasmine rice in Asia almost always takes center stage, winning honors and prizes as the world’s most delightful rice. Therefore, ‘fragrant rice’ is always considered popular and favorable and the price of Jasmine rice is often at a reasonably high rate.
Jasmine rice in Vietnam always keeps its standard quality and wins popularity in the international market.
- Natural factors:
Weather during a year can cause the fluctuation of the wholesale jasmine rice price. If the weather is advantageous, the price is less fluctuated. To specify, when natural disasters happen during a season, the supply will turn out to be scarce. The more scarce the crop is, the higher the price goes. Accordingly, disaster factors should also be taken into consideration for the fluctuation in the wholesale price of jasmine rice.
For instance, ST25 crop raised in Dong Thap, Ca Mau is more than usual as these areas are more advantageous than others due to the favorable weather, modern irrigation system, and experienced farmers. If ST25 is raised in too dry/humid and severe area, the output will turn out to be low and therefore, can not reach the expectation of the farmers.
In conclusion, with the same input but difference terrain and weather, the output of crop in each area differentiates. This strongly affects the harvesting and the price of Jasmine rice and so on.
Factors affecting Jasmine rice price
- Supply – Demand factors:
Generally, these are the 2 factors that have the most impact on the wholesale price of Jasmine rice. When the supply is abundant, the price will be lowered to reach customers’ expectation. Demand is usually put in comparison with the supply. As rice is included in the necessities group, when the demand is high and the supply is scarce then the price will surely soar. Otherwise, the price will go down. Depending on the supply – demand ratio, the wholesale of Jasmine rice will be automatically adjusted by the market.
- Logistics factors:
Transportation is a vital part of supplying, without transportation it is harder for the company to run its business. When the transportation is convenient, the price is cheaper. The most outstanding example is during the COVID-19 pandemic, logistics is among the most difficult problems to solve. Many countries have to stop their transportation not only with international suppliers but also with domestic suppliers. Therefore, the prices go up wildly, and sometimes transportation cannot be performed, not saying how much the prices reach. In addition, on the shipping line or seaway, the transporters may encounter dangerous elements such as pirates. Therefore, the prices are mostly inflated, especially in Thailand.
Vietnam is one of the countries that have advantage over other Southeast Asia countries in international transportation. With its convenient sea routes, logistics is now developing and supporting export industries in every aspects. Logistics is also considered as the most stable and fastest-growing industries in Vietnam with the average growth rate at about 14-16% per year, contributing to Vietnam GDP from 4-5%.
Vietnam – South America logistics is an example of a promising market when the sea route and flight route are both convenient, thus, the transportation price is also reasonably low. This is why Jasmine rice is chosen by a lot of South Americans.
- Political factors:
Political factors can also affect the wholesale prices of Jasmine rice a lot. If one country has a stable polity, the prices will not fluctuate much. But a country with a lot of political crisis finds it hard to keep the prices in a stable condition.
For instance, Thailand’s political instability obstructs its exporting prices, the supply is reported to may decrease from 30% to 70%. Therefore, Jasmine rice’s wholesale price will probably increase.
Wholesale prices of Jasmine rice
The wholesale market of Jasmine rice is highly potential as the recent Jasmine wholesale price is promisingly suitable for the consumers.
The wholesale price of Vietnamese Jasmine rice is 670.0 USD/MT – which is the cheapest in the top 3 leading exporting countries (from Statista, 2024). Despite the quality supply, Vietnam remains the country with a reasonable wholesale price for Jasmine rice.
Principal rice exporting countries worldwide in 2023_2024 (in 1,000 metric tons)
As Cambodia and Thailand have limited supply, the prices (respectively 830 USD/MT and 850 USD/MT) are also higher than these of Vietnam’s wholesale Jasmine rice suppliers.
| Country | Price (USD/MT) |
| Vietnam | 670 |
| Thailand | 820 |
| Cambodia | 830 |
In general, wholesale prices from Vietnamese suppliers in the middle of 2021 fell by 4.0% compared to 2020 with the highest price being 536.3 USD/MT and the lowest staying at 496.0 USD/MT. Affected by Covid-19, this year Vietnam’s wholesale price of Jasmine rice is expected to rise from the last quarter. Although the price is anticipated to continue rising, the price compared to Jasmine wholesale price in Cambodia and Thailand is still much lower and convenient for Jasmine rice customers/wholesalers.
How to choose the best quality Jasmine rice
These are the 3 steps to show you how to choose the best quality Jasmine rice:
- Consider the fragrance of Jasmine rice
To choose quality Jasmine rice, the most fragrant grains are primarily produced in Southeast Asia as its terrain is opportune for planting and harvesting. Jasmine rice harvested in these areas usually has the most distinctive aroma, just like its name ‘fragrant rice’.
Therefore, in order to consider Jasmine rice’s fragrance, look at the label often placed at the back of the brand. Check its origin whether it is produced in Southeast Asia or not. With its aromatic fragrance, Jasmine rice after being cooked will satisfy the appetite.
How to choose Jasmine rice
- Consider the type of Jasmine rice
Consumers of Jasmine rice all over the world generally prefer organic seeds to the traditional ones because they are fresh and clean without chemicals or other synthetic materials. The best quality Jasmine rice must be organic products as it is good for health.
Organic jasmine rice in bulk is not hard to find among the suppliers and food stores, but supermarket chains. Jasmine rice certified as organic will be clearly stated on its label.
- Consider the date of Jasmine rice
Best quality Jasmine rice is also not packaged too long ago, which means that consumers should consider how old the product is. The grains can be packaged when in fresh condition but still lose aroma after a few months.
When choosing Jasmine rice brand, it is advised to pick the brand that manufacturing date is not too far from the present.
How to detect fraud from Jasmine rice suppliers
Besides considering the features of the best quality Jasmine rice, wise consumers should also look into some characteristics of reliable Jasmine rice suppliers to detect unreliable suppliers and to have the best purchasing experience. Here are some helpful recommendations for customers to follow in order to avoid fraud.
Not having legal business license
Suppliers need permission from authorities to legally produce and run their business. Thus, to make sure your chosen supplier is reliable, the company must prove that they have legal business licenses. When the supplier does not prove themselves working legally by showing business licenses, it might probably be a scam.
Unclear location, profile, and certificate
A reliable supplier is also considered to have an exact address such as the office or the factory’s location so that customers can believe that the company is still working or basically legally running its business. There are many circumstances when the company fakes its location to deceive the buyers.
A reliable supplier needs to keep their website and other social media platforms updated and well-designed. In this technology era, consumers and suppliers connected with each other mainly through the Internet, and media is the tool, therefore, a prosperous supplier will focus on developing their online platforms. A website without updated information may be a sign of a scam.
Regarding certificates, suppliers of Jasmine rice can ensure their product quality by possessing the qualification such as ISO 9001, FSSC 22000, or HACCP. Jasmine rice exporters, moreover, need to follow some requirements of importing markets like USDA to the USA, or Global GAP of EU.
Signs of fraud
To wrap up, there are a few ways for wise customers to easily find reliable suppliers.
- Check the business websites, specifically the way they organize their catalog, and check the information in the ‘About us’/’Information’ section.
- Look up other information such as hotline, email address, office address, factory address (through google Maps, Baidu map, Yandex), and qualification certificate to check if it is legit or not.
- Look up the domains of Jasmine rice supplier’s website, or IP checker, to see how long the supplier has been available on the website.
Having no past performance
Any reliable supplier will regularly gain feedback from their customers. This is a way to judge whether the supplier provides their customers with excellent services, high-quality products, careful packaging, and shipment or not. With positive and trustworthy feedback, customers can make sure that they will receive the best products with high quality and services.
- To check their working performance, customers can go to the supplier’s website or media to collect more information and feedback.
Import Jasmine rice from Vietnam
Vietnam is a largely agricultural country so exporting rice from Vietnam also occupies an important part in economics. There is some information about importing Jasmine rice from Vietnam.
General information on importing Jasmine rice from Vietnam:
Being a small nation producing rice to provide domestic consumers, Vietnam now has become one of the leading and most popular Jasmine rice exporters in the international market. Vietnamese rice exporters are reported to have gained many achievements.
- In 2023, Vietnam exported 8.13 million tons of rice, valued at $4.67 billion, marking a 14.4% increase in volume and a 35.3% increase in value compared to 2022. This growth reflects Vietnam’s ability to meet rising global demand despite challenges in the international market.
- By the first quarter of 2024, Vietnam’s rice exports continued to surge, with a 17.6% increase in volume and a 45.5% increase in value compared to the same period in 2023. The country exported over 2.18 million tons of rice, generating approximately $1.43 billion, with an average price of $653.9 per ton.
- For the entire year of 2024, Vietnam is projected to export around 7.4 million tons of rice, generating over $5 billion in revenue, a significant achievement for the country’s agricultural sector.
How to import Jasmine rice from Vietnam
In general, the quantity of Vietnamese rice export fluctuates in different years, but the trend of the Vietnamese rice market is still increasing in value. This is resulting from the fact that Vietnam now mainly concentrates on the high-quality rice varieties, instead of increasing the scale of production of rice.
Documents needed in the procedure of importing Jasmine rice from Vietnam:
To successfully import Jasmine rice from Vietnam, here are some documents needed in the procedure:
- Letter of intent (prescribed format)
- Affidavit of undertaking
- Application form
- Suppliers Pro-forma invoice
- Audited financial statement received stamped by BIR
To respond to the preparation of the exporting partner, the Vietnam supplier also has the responsibility to provide information to meet the customers’ requirements:
- Having at least one standard warehouse to store the rice
- Having at least one standard milling factory
- Approval to export rice from the Vietnamese Government
- Cargo insurance
- Bill of lading
- List of packing
- Optional documents: Certificate of origin, Certificate of quality, Phytosanitary certificate, etc.
Top 4 Vietnamese suppliers of Jasmine rice
Here are some recommendations of Jamsine rice suppliers for customers.
Mekong JSC – Vietnam Agriculture
Mekong Joint Stock Company (Mekong JSC) was previously founded in 1992 and equitized in 2008 with a total capital of 56 billion VND, of which the State holds 29% of the charter capital. he company specializes in exporting various types of rice, including brown and jasmine rice, with a strong focus on premium quality. Mekong JSC’s products are highly suitable for both traditional Vietnamese dishes and international cuisines, such as sushi, rice bowls, and stir-fries. With competitive pricing ranging from $670 to $780 per metric ton, the company offers cost-effective solutions for bulk buyers.
Mekong Joint-stock Company
Mekong JSC’s key strengths include its efficient supply chain, adherence to international quality standards, and a well-established presence in both domestic and Asian markets. However, like many exporters, the company faces challenges related to fluctuating global rice prices and competition from other major rice-producing countries such as India and Thailand. Despite these challenges, Mekong JSC remains a reliable supplier for businesses seeking consistent quality at competitive prices.
K-Agriculture – leading Vietnamese Jasmine rice supplier
K-Agriculture is one of the leading Vietnamese exporters of agricultural products. Equipped with modern manufacturing facilities, and having long experience in producing and exporting agricultural products, K-Agriculture specializes in producing Jasmine rice and becomes a big supplier of Jasmine rice to many nations, including Africa, the USA, Asia, and the Middle East. The factory not only provides Jasmine rice but also supplies other high-quality rice such as Japonica, ST24, ST25, ST 21 rice, OM504 rice, OM5451 rice, and DT08 rice at reasonable prices.
K-Agriculture – The best Jasmine rice supplier in Vietnam
Contact information:
WhatsApp: +8484444867
Email: info@k-agriculture.com
Website: https://k-agriculture.com/
Highland Dragon Long An Rice Mill – a manufacturer of Jasmine rice
Highland Dragon Long An Rice Mill has continuously developed and promoted Vietnam’s agriculture to international markets. With 12 years of experience in rice manufacturing, Highland Dragon is one of the first companies to offer packaged Jasmine rice for the retail market. The company primarily focuses on high-quality Jasmine rice, which is known for its fragrant aroma and soft texture, making it ideal for dishes like steamed rice, fried rice, and various Asian cuisines. The average price of their Jasmine rice is competitive, typically ranging from $670 to $700 per metric ton, depending on market conditions.
Highland Dragon
One of the key strengths of Highland Dragon is its commitment to quality control and sustainable farming practices, ensuring that their rice meets international standards. However, a potential drawback could be the limited variety of rice products offered compared to larger suppliers who may provide a wider range of options. Nevertheless, Highland Dragon’s focus on premium Jasmine rice makes it a preferred choice for businesses seeking high-quality Vietnamese rice.
Mechanics Construction And Foodstuff
Mecofood has become a key player in the food export and import industry, particularly excelling in rice distribution, thanks to its modern and professional system of factories and warehouses. This infrastructure enables Mecofood to meet the increasing demand for food processing and purchase from international clients. Among their offerings, brown rice is one of the main products, with a competitive price range that varies depending on the market and order size. Brown rice is highly versatile, used in health-conscious dishes like salads, stir-fries, and grain bowls due to its high fiber content and nutty flavor. Mecofood sources its brown rice from top suppliers in countries like India and Vietnam, which are known for their high-quality grains.
The advantages of sourcing from these regions include competitive pricing and consistent supply. However, challenges such as fluctuating market prices and potential shipping delays can occasionally arise. Overall, Mecofood’s strong logistics network and commitment to quality make it a reliable partner for businesses seeking bulk brown rice supplies.
Mecofood Company
Read more: Jasmine Rice Manufacturer In Vietnam: Ways To Develop
In conclusion, this article provides you with the information you need to know about jasmine rice. Hope you find this article useful. Please leave a comment for further explanation from experts from K-agriculture which is one of the biggest factories in agriculture in Vietnam!
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