For nearly half the world’s population, rice is life. Rice provides one of the main sources of calories for billions of people. It is a staple, a comfort food, a side dish and a main meal. In fact, rice is so integral to many cultures around the world it is often intermingled with mythologies, gods and goddesses, ceremonies and celebrations. It’s also a highly nutritious component of a healthy diet. Rice gives you natural nutrients, fibers, proteins and is an excellent source of Vitamin B3. Rice is the longest continuously grown cereal crop in the world and according to the International Rice Re- search Institute (IRRI) it is “one of the most important developments in history”.
Rice is a symbol of cultural identity, global unity and life. Rice has a meaning beyond just food supply and employment in Asia, namely it is also seen as a political good due to its massive influence on social, economic and political stability. The United Nations paid a special tribute to rice, the only food crop honoured twice. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations had declared 1966 the Year of Rice and the year 2004 was also declared the Inter- national Year of Rice by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
92% of all rice is farmed in Asia, and Myanmar is the seventh biggest rice growing country in the world. Myanmar exports rice to various parts of the world. The 2014-15 fiscal year’s rice export volume exceeded the expectations of the Myanmar Rice Federaion, which had predicted the figure at 1.5 million tons.
Thaung Win, a rice exporter who also acts as secretary of the Myanmar Rice Millers Association, said that outside the China trade, rice shipments to some EU (European Union) countries, Japan and other ASEAN nations are on the rise.
In Myanmar, a person eats 500 pounds of rice a year, an astonishing figure when it is reduced to a daily consumption of 1-1/4 pounds per day, but perhaps not so astonishing when you consider that Myanmar is a land where rice cultivation most likely originated thousands of years ago.
Today, rice is the country’s most important crop. Myanmar’s rice exports rose more surepearlriceturnsoutfirmandchewyand not soft and mushy.
In 2011, Pearl Paw San was awarded World’s best tasting rice at the 3rd World Rice Conference held in Ho Chi Minh, Viet- nam, – giving a big reason for Myanmar to celebrate . It was the first time that Thai Jasmine rice – the pride of the nation – did not win this contest. The select panel of judges sampled more than 30 entries from across the world to rank them based on their flavour, colour and quality. The contest was
started two years ago in conjunction with the World Rice Conference organized by a global rice consultancy -The Rice Trader. Thailand’s much touted jasmine rice was the winner in the previous two editions. Jasmine rice has been an important export commodity of Thailand; it generates highest value of exports among all rice export commodities from the country.
Rice producers around the world have long argued about who has the tastiest grain, and for some countries, it’s a point of intense national pride. There is a vast number of rice varieties available world-wide, with each being special in its own way. Myanmar’s Pearl Paw San rice is famous throughout the Southeast Asian region as arguably the tastiest and most fragrant rice on the market. It is a bold, round grain and it isn’t very long at 5.0-5.5 millimeters. Nevertheless, its length
can increase 3 to 4 times the original size after cooking. Pearl Paw San rice is grown in the Ayeyarwaddy delta region and Sagaing region. Both the regions have very fertile soil. Paw San is harvested once per year from November to January.
What makes the rice aromatic? The presence of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline compound is most closely associated with the fragrance of basmati and jasmine rice. Although many other compounds are also found in the headspace of fragrant rice varieties but 2-acetyl-1-pyr- roline is widely known to be the main cause of the distinctive basmati and jasmine fragrance. Basmati grains contain 0.09 parts per million of the chemical compound 2-ace- tyl-1-pyrroline, which is about 12 times more than concentrations found in unscented rice varieties and enough to give Basmati its distinctive spicy fragrance. The desirability of fragrance has resulted in strong human preference and selection for this trait. Non-fra- grant rice varieties contain very low levels of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline.
Though aromatic rice contributes to a small share in the world market, but it is valued at the highest price among all types of rice. Two prominent aromatic varieties of rice in the world market include Basmati grown in India and Pakistan, and Khao Dawk Mali or Jasmine rice grown in Thailand. Among rice traded in the world market these two varieties have been given the highest value. The price of Thai Jasmine rice is nearly double the price of the regular Thai white rice while Basmati is the world’s most sought-after rice, fetching up to ten times more than common rice in international markets. Paw San also won the coveted prize for its flavor which is a very delightful fragrance which is retained after cooking. The unique aroma of Paw San is a result of a combination of the presence of the major gene for fragrance, other minor genes, and the climatic and soil conditions in Myanmar where it is grown.
