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History
Long-grain Rice
Medium-grain Rice
Short-grain Rice
Wild Rice
Preparation



Rice was thought rice is native to India and descended from a wild Indian Grass called newaree. But recent discoveries in Thailand date rice to 3500 BC
 
Next to wheat it is the largest food crop in the world. Staple diet to one third of the worlds population is nourished exclusively on rice
 
Recorded in China 2800 BC, came to Japan before the first century BC, India has recorded rice dating back to 3000 BC

Introduced to Greece by Arab travelers and brought to Spain by the Moors in 700AD -the Spanish brought it to South America at beginning of 17th century

First cultivated in Virginia in  the US in 1647 but the Carolinas became the production center and exported more than 60 tons of rice to  England
 
7,000+ varieties exist and are either grown aquatically ("paddy-grown") or "hill- grown" (most is paddy grown)
 
After the American Revolution Thomas Jefferson smuggled rice seed out of Italy and brought it back to the Carolinas in 1787 to revive the rice industry

US now produces more than 10 billion pounds of rice.

Eaten as whole grain or used as basis for rice flour used in rice noodles, rice paper; also rice vinegar, rice wine

Wheat Whole Wheat Rice Grain Corn Barley Buckwheat Oats Quinoa Rye

Sweeteners Condiments Flour Grain Pasta Yeast Oils Vinegar Chocolate Coffee Tea