Have you had your rice today?
Let’s take a sneak peek of rice around the world…
The first documented account of rice was by a Chinese emperor about 2,800 BC. This is probably why the Chinese word for rice is the same as the word for food, and instead of asking, "How are you?" they ask "Have you had your rice today?"
But rice has made its mark around the world, not only in China. The Thai people say, "Come eat rice," when they call their families for dinner.
Rice is also the first food a new Indian bride offers her husband. She spices it up with fresh ginger and garlic amongst other flavours.
In the cold lands of the north, the Finns count the number of rice grains in the bride's hair to predict how many children they'll have.
And did you know that rice is a symbol of life and fertility, which is why, in some parts of the world, it's thrown as confetti at weddings?
Today, rice is the main starch food in the world and eaten almost daily in Asia, The Americas, Africa and in Australia.
Rice has its own unique way of flourishing. It thrives in flooded fields and even in the dry lands of South America. Around the world, over 150 million hectares of land are devoted to growing rice. In fact, the only continent where rice is not grown is Antarctica.
There are more than 40 000 different variants of rice. Apart being used in beer, dog food, baby food, breakfast cereals, snacks, frozen foods and sauces, rice feeds two-thirds of the world's population.
Not only is Spekko Rice ridiculously good, it’s also healthy.
Spekko Long Grain Parboiled Rice provides a slow release of energy, improves blood glucose control and keeps you feeling satisfied for longer. It’s also Low GI, making it a great staple for healthy eaters.
Rice is a good source of carbohydrates, which provide fuel for the body and are an essential part of a balanced diet.
Protein is the second largest component of rice. It has all eight of the essential amino acids, which are responsible for building muscle tissue, enzymes and antibodies.
Both white and brown rice contain essential vitamins and minerals, including the B-group vitamins, vitamin D, calcium, iron, zinc and phosphorus. Brown rice also contains Vitamin E, magnesium, potassium and manganese.
Rice is low in fat. It contains no harmful saturated fats or trans-fatty acids, and as part of a balanced diet it helps to keep cholesterol levels healthy.
Rice contains negligible amounts of sodium – less than 5mg sodium per 100g serving to be exact. It is a great food for those who are watching their salt intake.
