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What rice is

Rice is a cereal grain and, in its domesticated form, is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Africa and Asia. Rice is the seed of the grass species Oryza sativa (Asian rice) or, less commonly, Oryza glaberrima (African rice). It is a cereal belonging to the family Poaceae. The rice plant can grow to over 1 m tall.

Long-grain rice, from the Indica cultivar, tends to stay intact on cooking, and is dry and fluffy. The aromatic rice varieties, such as basmati and jasmine, are distinguished by a bold and nutty flavor profile.

Aroma chemistry

2-Acetyl-1-pyrroline is an aroma compound with the formula C₆H₉NO. It is a substituted pyrroline and a cyclic imine as well as a ketone. Instrumental analyses have found over 200 volatile compounds present in rice. Aromatic rice produces more 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline than usual due to a loss-of-function mutation in the BADH2 gene.

2-Acetyl-1-pyrroline was identified in 10 rice varieties investigated. The highest concentration was found in Malagkit Sungsong, at 0.09 ppm in milled rice and 0.2 ppm in brown rice, and the lowest in Calrose, at less than 0.006 ppm in milled rice. It occurs at a higher concentration in brown rice than in milled rice of the same variety.

Rice bran oil

CAS 68553-81-1 is the registry number of rice bran oil. Rice bran oil has 38% monounsaturated, 37% polyunsaturated and 25% saturated fatty acids. A component of rice bran oil is γ-oryzanol, at around 2% of crude oil content. Rice bran oil has a high smoke point of 232 °C (450 °F) and a mild flavor.

Rice bran wax, obtained from rice bran oil, is used as a substitute for carnauba wax in cosmetics, confectionery, shoe creams, and polishing compounds.

Production and trade

In 2023, 800 million tons of rice were produced, placing it third after sugarcane and maize. Less than 8% of rice produced is traded internationally. By 2012, India was the largest exporter of rice, with Thailand and Vietnam the other largest exporters.

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