Rice is one of those foods that is universally loved by everyone. There are so many cultures that have diverse ways of incorporating rice into their dishes. As there is with any type of plant, there is more than one form of rice. There is a lot to know about jasmine rice in particular. Jasmine rice is a type of rice of the long-grain variety. It originates from Thailand and is a fragrant, or aromatic, grain of rice; its name in Chinese literally translates to “Thai fragrant rice.” People have described the scent of jasmine rice as smelling like pandan, popcorn, or even floral scents like the jasmine flower. This specific rice is renowned for being one of the—if not the—best grains of rice there is. Here is what you need to know about what jasmine rice is and the many things you can do with it beyond eating alone!

Where to Find Jasmine Rice

Although it originates from Thailand, jasmine rice is appreciated across a variety of Southeast Asian cultures. Grown primarily in Thailand, it can also be found in Cambodia, Laos, and Southern Vietnam. When it comes to buying jasmine rice for yourself, you’d be pleased to know that it can be purchased from your local grocery store!

Different Types of Jasmine Rice

Yes—variations of rice have sub-variations of themselves. For example, there’s traditional Thai jasmine rice and Cambodian jasmine rice. Cambodian jasmine rice is often cultivated in Cambodia and processed as white and/or brown rice. Similarly, Thai jasmine rice is also processed as white and brown, but its shape is more slender. Most of the jasmine rice exported to other countries is the Thai jasmine rice variety, but there’s a small minority that comes from Vietnam that gets exported as well. Brown jasmine rice is actually healthier for you than its white counterpart. This is because brown jasmine rice maintains the bran, which is the hard outer layer of grains. Jasmine rice isn’t just one kind of standard rice, it’s a type that can be differentiated between its other variations. Having this kind of variety makes indulging in jasmine rice all the more enjoyable!

Nutrition of Jasmine Rice

If you’re thinking about making the switch from regular white rice to white jasmine rice for nutritional purposes, then you might be at a loss. White rice and white jasmine rice are processed in the same way and don’t differ much in terms of nutritional value. However, if you’re really trying to find a rice that’s healthier for you than white, then you can try out brown jasmine rice. It contains gamma oryzanol which has been proven to decrease cholesterol in blood vessels. A 1⁄4 cup serving of brown jasmine rice has twice as much fiber and iron as a serving of white jasmine rice, and it makes a great source of magnesium. As luck would have it, the same size serving of jasmine rice contains 160 calories, 35 of which consist of carbohydrates. Brown jasmine rice also has a lower glycemic index, which is a depiction of the relative rise in the blood glucose level after consuming food, than white rice. A lower glycemic index makes this food favorable for diabetics as it prevents a large spike in their blood sugar. Rice in general is a healthy food, but brown jasmine rice is the way to go if you’re trying to go the extra mile for your health.

Additional Health Benefits of Jasmine Rice

Although brown jasmine rice is the only variation that’s better for you than its white counterpart, that doesn’t necessarily make the others unhealthy. Jasmine rice actually comes with a lot of useful health benefits. As we already know, our bodies burn carbs in order to give us energy. Jasmine rice can also promote a healthy pregnancy for expecting mothers; a cup of jasmine rice provides nearly 25 percent of the daily requirement of vitamin B9, also known as folate. Since brown jasmine rice is high in fiber, it has been linked to helping with preventing the risk of cancer. Studies have shown that high fiber intakes help reduce the risk of breast, head, neck, ovarian, and colorectal cancers. What’s so great about jasmine rice is that you don’t have to limit yourself to one kind—you can comfortably explore different types of jasmine rice and relish the variety of benefits it has to offer!

How You Should Cook Jasmine Rice

When cooking jasmine rice, it’s imperative that you pay special attention to the water to rice ratio—it can make or break how your rice turns out. You should add 1-1⁄2 cups of water for every 1 cup of jasmine rice, but if you like your rice soft, don’t be afraid to add a little more water! It shouldn’t take more than 20 minutes of boiling to achieve the perfect jasmine rice dish! If you’re looking for something more hearty, you can pair jasmine rice with things like chicken, eggplant, salmon, broccoli, and steak. Cooking jasmine rice is not a hard task, and it’s important to remember that your meal is what you make of it, so take great advantage of such a lovely grain!

Jasmine Rice and Hair Growth

What many may not know is that rice is great for promoting hair growth. Jasmine rice contains vitamin B8, which can help strengthen your hair and prevent breakage. Using jasmine rice to help your hair grow is easy, all you have to do is let the rice sit in water for a full 24 hours and then rinse your hair out with the water! Many people have reported that the rate at which their hair grows has increased drastically. The best part is, jasmine rice is a fragrant rice, so the rice water may leave your hair smelling good! This goes to show that jasmine rice is not only good for you internally, but it can also benefit you externally.

There are a lot of things that jasmine rice can do for you. It’s really easy to come up with multiple ways of incorporating it into your diet, and the benefits it comes with can do a lot of good for the people who use it. We hope this guide shows you all you need to know about jasmine rice so that you too can make use of its benefits!