Pals Rice facts for kids
Pals rice is a special kind of rice grown in a beautiful area of Spain called Empordà. It's known as "Arroz de Pals" and is considered a very high-quality rice.
Farmers in Pals grow several types of this rice. Some traditional ones are Bahia and Bomba. There are also newer types like Carneroli and Nembo.
This rice is great for all sorts of meals, especially for cooking in a traditional Spanish pot called a cazuela (a type of cooking pot). It's perfect for dishes from Empordà because it stays firm and doesn't get sticky or mushy when cooked.
To make sure you're getting real Pals rice, look for a special label called "Productes de l'Empordà". This label means the rice was grown, prepared, and packed right there in Empordà. It also means it goes through regular quality checks.
Farmers usually plant the rice seeds from late April to early May. They then harvest the rice from late September to late October.
History
Rice farming in Pals started a long time ago, in the 1400s. People think the idea of growing rice came from the Arabs in Valencia.
Later, in the late 1700s, rice farming was limited. This was done to help stop the spread of diseases that were linked to growing rice.
However, in the year 1900, farmers in Pals were given permission to start growing rice again.
See also
In Spanish: Arroz de Pals para niños
