How to pick your rice? White rice is the most popular option in many households as it’s softer in texture and easy to digest. Brown/Purple rice are whole grains and rich in nutrients, perfect for the “Three Highs.” Five-grain rice is also rich in nutrients, but lower on fiber compared to Brown and Purple rice.
One quick and easy way to define the quality of rice is to check the form of rice for cracks and uneven shapes, as well as the presence of a CNS Mark on the packaging.
Judge rice by its looks! The more refined the shape is, the better the quality. It should also give off a naturally pleasant aroma.
Raw rice stored too long could still go stale, sometimes even inviting the presence of Aflatoxins. A great way to extend shelf life would be to seal your bag of rice airtight and keep it in the fridge!
Through washing and soaking, rice will absorb the water used as well as the Bacteria in it. Rinse your rice with drinkable water such as filtered or boiled and cooled water to ensure a cleaner washing process.

稻米象徵富足與豐產，在許多國家婚禮傳統中則寓意著對新人的祝福。日本神前婚禮儀式中，新人會喝下由米釀製成的神酒，期許婚姻圓滿；印度婚禮中，米代表感激與祝福。
Seeds and crops are things that grow. Because marriage means expansion, from building a family to increasing assets and wealth, tossing rice at an Asian (China and India) or Western wedding symbolizes both fertility and prosperity for the newlyweds. In Shinto weddings, the bride and grooms exchange cups of sake, while in Hindu weddings, rice used in many ways to show gratitude and appreciation.

你聽過紫莓香米嗎？由泰國米科學中心研發，將不同茉莉香米米種結合培育的超強稻米。擁有極高營養價值與泰國香米的香氣及口感，2002 年上市後即受米食愛好者的喜愛。


A crossbreed of jasmine rice varieties carefully crafted by the Rice Science Center in Thailand in 2002 has only grown in popularity.  This so-called “superfood” is saturated with beneficial nutrients at much higher levels than any other type of rice, including black/purple rice. 

在義大利，當地米種 Arborio, Carnaroli 與 Vialone Nano 都是義式燉飯好吃的秘密；西班牙人則愛用自家的 Bomba 與 Calasparra 做出最完美的海鮮燉飯。


Several lesser-known rice varieties ideal for specific dishes are cultivated outside of Asia. In Italy, Arborio, Carnaroli, and Vialone Nano are great for risottos. In Spain, Bomba and Calasparra are perfect for paella. In the U.S., Wehani and Carolina Gold are often used in traditional southern rice dishes.

Q 彈米紙中包覆著飽滿的餡料，越南春捲層次豐富的口感，讓人一口接一口停不下來；孩子們最愛的牛扎糖，外層也會包覆著一層薄米紙，除了讓糖果不會黏住包裝，也讓食用時更加方便。


One of the main staples of Vietnamese cuisine is rice paper, which is used for wrapping spring rolls. On much smaller scale, rice paper is also used to wrap confectionary, so it doesn’t get stuck to the candy wrapper.

米水富含營養，對人們的頭髮及皮膚都極為有益。追溯到許多世紀前的亞洲各國傳統中都有人們使與用米水保養的紀錄，也難怪現代的美妝、美髮保養品中經常看見它們的蹤跡。


Rice water is not only nutritious but also beneficial for the hair and skin. It’s been practiced in Asian cultures for centuries and there’s no wonder that it’s widely used in beauty products such as face masks, skin exfoliators, and hair treatments.

米在宗教中有不少影響力。印度教及佛教皆有將稻米作為感恩與尊敬之意供奉於祖先的傳統，甚至在印度教傳統的出生及死亡儀式中也有米的身影。豐收祭時，稻米則是祈福儀式中的重要角色。
Some religions of the world, particularly Hinduism and Buddhism, offer rice to ancestors or the divine in a show of gratitude and respect. Rice also plays a sacred role in traditional birth and funeral rituals of Hinduism. In harvest festivals involving rituals, rice is used to give thanks and ask for blessings.

米不但可以是佳餚，也可以是美酒。日本清酒、韓國燒酒、中國白酒與黃酒等皆是由米釀造而成，許多人小酌時愛喝的拉格啤酒，便是在釀造時加入了米，才能有如此清爽的口感！
There’s a diverse range of alcoholic beverages based in rice from around the world, but it’s markedly more popular in Asia – sake (Japan), shochu (Japan), soju (South Korea), baijiu (China), and huangjui (China). It also happens to be a key ingredient in lager beers characterized as light and crispy.

氣候變遷與對乾淨水資源的需求讓我們不得不改變傳統耕種模式。為了餵飽40億米食人口，人們開始發展創新及永續的耕種方式，期望讓下一代認知到稻米的重要性。
Half of the world depends on rice – 4 billion people – but climate change and the scarcity of freshwater resources are challenging traditional practices to evolve. Finding innovate ways of cultivating is essential to safeguarding future generations from the devastating cultural, and economic ramifications if the demand cannot be met.

當你聽到「吃飯嘍！」，你會想到一碗飯，還是一整餐呢？在中文和日文對話中，「飯」這個字不僅可以指一碗白米飯，也可以代表一餐。從日常生活，我們可以看出大家對米飯的喜愛程度。
Cultural points of interest can sometimes be identified upon examining a language; for instance, take the words “gohan” in Japanese and “fan” in Mandarin for “cooked rice” – both suggest “eating,” underlining that rice is not just sustenance, but also life, and that eating doesn’t happen without rice.

透過「24 節氣」這個可以了解不同時期氣候的傳統農曆，是許多耕種者的聖經。繪本 《Rice》（作者 Hongcheng Yu）繪聲繪色地描述節氣與耕耘的關係，是獲得米知識不可錯過的好書。
There’s a great graphic in the non-fiction book “Rice” by Hongcheng Yu that shows the various cycles of the moon. Did you know there are 24 solar terms in the lunar calendar based on the position of the sun used to predict changes in weather, water, and frost? All important factors in the farming of rice still used today.

How to pick your rice? White rice is the most popular option in many households as it’s softer in texture and easy to digest. Brown/Purple rice are whole grains and rich in nutrients, perfect for the “Three Highs.” Five-grain rice is also rich in nutrients, but lower on fiber compared to Brown and Purple rice.
Judge rice by its looks! The more refined the shape is, the better the quality. It should also give off a naturally pleasant aroma.
One quick and easy way to define the quality of rice is to check the form of rice for cracks and uneven shapes, as well as the presence of a CNS Mark on the packaging.
Raw rice stored too long could still go stale, sometimes even inviting the presence of Aflatoxins. A great way to extend shelf life would be to seal your bag of rice airtight and keep it in the fridge!
Through washing and soaking, rice will absorb the water used as well as the Bacteria in it. Rinse your rice with drinkable water such as filtered or boiled and cooled water to ensure a cleaner washing process.

稻米象徵富足與豐產，在許多國家婚禮傳統中則寓意著對新人的祝福。日本神前婚禮儀式中，新人會喝下由米釀製成的神酒，期許婚姻圓滿；印度婚禮中，米代表感激與祝福。
Seeds and crops are things that grow. Because marriage means expansion, from building a family to increasing assets and wealth, tossing rice at an Asian (China and India) or Western wedding symbolizes both fertility and prosperity for the newlyweds. In Shinto weddings, the bride and grooms exchange cups of sake, while in Hindu weddings, rice used in many ways to show gratitude and appreciation.

你聽過紫莓香米嗎？由泰國米科學中心研發，將不同茉莉香米米種結合培育的超強稻米。擁有極高營養價值與泰國香米的香氣及口感，2002 年上市後即受米食愛好者的喜愛。
A crossbreed of jasmine rice varieties carefully crafted by the Rice Science Center in Thailand in 2002 has only grown in popularity.  This so-called “superfood” is saturated with beneficial nutrients at much higher levels than any other type of rice, including black/purple rice. 

在義大利，當地米種 Arborio, Carnaroli 與 Vialone Nano 都是義式燉飯好吃的秘密；西班牙人則愛用自家的 Bomba 與 Calasparra 做出最完美的海鮮燉飯。
Several lesser-known rice varieties ideal for specific dishes are cultivated outside of Asia. In Italy, Arborio, Carnaroli, and Vialone Nano are great for risottos. In Spain, Bomba and Calasparra are perfect for paella. In the U.S., Wehani and Carolina Gold are often used in traditional southern rice dishes.

米不但可以是佳餚，也可以是美酒。日本清酒、韓國燒酒、中國白酒與黃酒等皆是由米釀造而成，許多人小酌時愛喝的拉格啤酒，便是在釀造時加入了米，才能有如此清爽的口感！
There’s a diverse range of alcoholic beverages based in rice from around the world, but it’s markedly more popular in Asia – sake (Japan), shochu (Japan), soju (South Korea), baijiu (China), and huangjui (China). It also happens to be a key ingredient in lager beers characterized as light and crispy.

米水富含營養，對人們的頭髮及皮膚都極為有益。追溯到許多世紀前的亞洲各國傳統中都有人們使與用米水保養的紀錄，也難怪現代的美妝、美髮保養品中經常看見它們的蹤跡。
Rice water is not only nutritious but also beneficial for the hair and skin. It’s been practiced in Asian cultures for centuries and there’s no wonder that it’s widely used in beauty products such as face masks, skin exfoliators, and hair treatments.

米在宗教中有不少影響力。印度教及佛教皆有將稻米作為感恩與尊敬之意供奉於祖先的傳統，甚至在印度教傳統的出生及死亡儀式中也有米的身影。豐收祭時，稻米則是祈福儀式中的重要角色。
Some religions of the world, particularly Hinduism and Buddhism, offer rice to ancestors or the divine in a show of gratitude and respect. Rice also plays a sacred role in traditional birth and funeral rituals of Hinduism. In harvest festivals involving rituals, rice is used to give thanks and ask for blessings.

Q彈米紙中包覆著飽滿的餡料，越南春捲層次豐富的口感，讓人一口接一口停不下來；孩子們最愛的牛扎糖，外層也會包覆著一層薄米紙，除了讓糖果不會黏住包裝，也讓食用時更加方便。
One of the main staples of Vietnamese cuisine is rice paper, which is used for wrapping spring rolls. On much smaller scale, rice paper is also used to wrap confectionary, so it doesn’t get stuck to the candy wrapper.

氣候變遷與對乾淨水資源的需求讓我們不得不改變傳統耕種模式。為了能持續餵飽40億米食人口，人們開始發展創新及永續的耕種方式，期望能讓我們的下一代繼續認知到稻米的重要性。
Half of the world depends on rice – 4 billion people – but climate change and the scarcity of freshwater resources are challenging traditional practices to evolve. Finding new, innovate ways of cultivating it is essential to safeguarding future generations from the devastating cultural, environmental, and economic ramifications if the demand cannot be met.

當你聽到「吃飯嘍！」，你會想到一碗飯，還是一整餐呢？在中文和日文的對話中，「飯」這個字不僅可以指一碗白米飯，也可以代表一餐。從日常生活中，我們可以看出大家對米飯的喜愛程度。
Cultural points of interest can sometimes be identified upon examining a language; for instance, take the words “gohan” in Japanese and “fan” in Mandarin for “cooked rice” – both suggest “eating,” underlining that rice is not just sustenance, but also life, and that eating doesn’t happen without rice.

透過「24 節氣」這個可以了解不同時期氣候的傳統農曆，是許多耕種者的聖經。繪本 《Rice》（作者 Hongcheng Yu）繪聲繪色地描述不同節氣與耕耘的關係，是獲得米知識不可錯過的好書。
There’s a great graphic in the non-fiction book “Rice” by Hongcheng Yu that shows the various cycles of the moon. Did you know there are 24 solar terms in the lunar calendar based on the position of the sun used to predict changes in weather, water, and frost? All important factors in the farming of rice still used today.