Patna rice facts for kids
.jpg)
Patna rice is a special kind of long-grain white rice. It comes from the Oryza sativa plant species. This rice is grown a lot in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India. You can find it especially in and around Patna, which is the capital city of the Bihar state.
People have eaten Patna rice as a main food for thousands of years. It's famous for its long, thin grains, which are usually longer than 6 millimeters. Sometimes, local people also call this rice Parimal rice.
Contents
What Makes Patna Rice Special?
Patna rice has a mild flavor. It comes from the Bihar region, near the Ganges River. Its grains are strong, long, and narrow. They also keep their shape well, which is great for dishes like curries.
Patna Rice vs. Basmati Rice
You might have heard of Basmati rice. It is very similar to Patna rice. The main difference is that Basmati rice has a much stronger smell. Both are popular long-grain rice types.
A Bit of History
Patna rice has a long and interesting history.
Early Mentions
A famous writer named Abul Fazal lived a long time ago during the Mughal Empire. He wrote about the different types of rice grown in the Gangetic area. He spoke very highly of the rice grown in Patna. This shows how important Patna rice was even back then.
Patna Rice and William Fullarton
A man from the UK named William Fullarton of Skeldon became very rich by trading Patna rice. He was so successful that he named a small coal-mining village in Scotland after it. This village is called Patna and is in East Ayrshire, Scotland.
Why the Name "Patna Rice" Spread
For a long time, most of the rice sold in Europe came from the Patna region. Because of this, the name "Patna rice" sometimes became a general term. People would use it to describe any long-grain rice that smelled good, even if it didn't come from Patna itself.
Patna Rice in America
Patna rice also played a role in the history of rice in America.
The Story of Carolina Rice
It is believed that Patna rice was one of the first types of rice grown in America. It was planted in a place called Carolina. This is why some American long-grain rice is called "Carolina rice." Seeds of Patna rice were taken to Carolina. The rice grown there was then sent to Britain before the American Civil War. So, "Carolina rice" can also refer to this type of rice.
