Outside of its native nations, the fragrant long-grain Jasmine rice is growing popular in places like Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.
Compared to white rice, this variety of rice is sweeter and has a softer texture. Even though it is referred to as sticky rice, glutinous rice is more sticky. Many professional and home cooks select Jasmine rice for their meals because of its distinctive aroma, which is comparable to that of the jasmine flower blended with popcorn.
Jasmine rice is now available in most supermarkets and online, although it was once thought to be somewhat unusual.
It is often referred to as Thai fragrant rice because the majority of it is imported from Thailand.
We have chosen for you the finest jasmine rice goods and brands available by summarizing the key characteristics of this food item.
The Different Types of Jasmine Rice
Different varieties of jasmine rice are grown in Cambodia, Thailand, Southern Vietnam, and Laos.
The extent of processing the rice has gone through determines its type.
Blue, purple and red jasmine rice comes with hulls and is the least processed of all types.
Brown jasmine rice is the one that is de-hulled. And white jasmine rice is the most processed type and has been milled to remove the bran and germ.
The least processed jasmine rice has the best nutritional value but takes the longest time to cook.
The white jasmine rice cooks faster but doesn’t have as much nutritional value as the brown or colorful unprocessed types.
Jasmine Rice Health Benefits
The highly processed white jasmine rice has similar nutritional qualities to regular white rice.
But the colorful unprocessed jasmine rice and the de-hulled brown variety have high nutritional value and offer a variety of different health benefits.
One serving (1/4 cup) of brown jasmine rice has 160 calories, 35g carbohydrates, 3g protein, and 1g fat. It contains zero cholesterol, sugar, or sodium.
It is rich in vitamin B1, vitamin B6, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, and selenium.
The colorful red, purple and blue jasmine rice is the one that has not been processed and, as such, offers the most significant health benefits. It is an excellent source of phytonutrients that help boost the immune system.
Since it contains a significant amount of folic acid, unprocessed jasmine rice is recommended for pregnant women or women trying to conceive.
Also, colorful and brown jasmine rice help promote a healthy digestive system and normal bowel movements due to its high fiber content.
But please note that due to its high glycemic index, jasmine rice can cause blood sugar spikes, and thus consuming too much of it on a regular basis is not recommended for people with diabetes.
There is also a risk of a dangerous buildup of arsenic in the body, especially in children, if eaten in large quantities and without being washed thoroughly before cooking it.
The Best Way to Cook Jasmine Rice
Most recipes call for the use of white jasmine rice. The reason is that it is the softest and stickiest and has the most distinctive aroma and flavor of all other types.
Due to its specific texture and qualities, it is recommended to cook white jasmine rice with less water than you would use for cooking white rice.
The recommended ratio of white jasmine rice to water is 1 cup of rice to 1 ¼ cup water.
If you wash the rice prior to cooking, you can reduce the amount of water by another two tablespoons.
When cooked with less water, the rice will remain soft and fluffy rather than become gummy.
Turn the heat to high for a quick simmer to cook it. As soon as it starts simmering, lower the heat to medium, cover the pot and cook it for another 12 minutes.
After the time is up, remove the pot from the stovetop and let the rice sit for about 10 minutes. Then you can use a rice paddle or spatula to fluff it up and serve it.
If you wonder which the best jasmine rice brand is, read on for our top 10 selections.
The Best Jasmine Rice
Three Ladies Rice
This top-rated extra super quality jasmine rice by Three Ladies is our top pick because it is among the most versatile and fragrant of all the products we have tasted.
Its fresh aroma will fill your kitchen as you cook this rice. In fact, it is fragrant even when it is still raw.
The Three Ladies rice is easy to prepare, and you can eat it alone as a delicious meal by just adding some butter, salt, and pepper.
It is produced from the freshest crops and, as such, is of the highest quality, so aromatic, and it cooks fast.
This traditional Thai Hom Mali Jasmine rice is a favorite of Thai people and jasmine rice lovers around the world.
You can buy it in different package sizes, ranging from 5 lbs. to 25 lbs.
The brand also offers other jasmine rice types, including Sanpatong Sweet Rice, Black Glutinous Rice, Brown Jasmine, Organic Jasmine, Jasmine Long Grain, Jasmine Broken, and Red Cargo Rice.
Dragonfly Thai Jasmine Rice
This is another top-quality Thai jasmine rice brand that is sold in large 10-pound bags and has a strong flavor and aroma.
The prime quality Thai Hom Mali rice contains no GMO or trans-fat.
It is chewy, not as starchy as other brands, and is perfect by itself or as a side dish.
You can use the Dragonfly jasmine rice to complement just about any meat-based, fish-based or veggie dish, curry, or other.
817 Elephant Jasmine Rice White Thai Hom Mali
This naturally fragrant white jasmine rice from the 817 Elephant Jasmine Rice brand is another top-rated and bestselling product.
The long-grain aromatic rice is suitable for cooking Thai dishes or any recipes that call for rice. You can make the healthiest steamed rice dishes with it or use it for a hearty and flavorsome stir fry.
The white jasmine rice cooks fast so that you can make it for just about 15 minutes.
It is a naturally-sourced product that is GMO-free.
The rice is certified with the Thai Hom Mali Rice mark for premium quality jasmine rice.
It is sold in large 15 lbs. bags with carrying handles.
Dynasty Jasmine Rice
With over 1,000 primarily positive ratings on Amazon, the Dynasty jasmine rice is among the most popular brands of all included in this list.
The bestselling rice is sold at a reasonable price and in large bags of 20 lbs. This equals more than 45 cups of rice, so you will have jasmine rice for quite a long time if you buy it.
It is organic, grown in Thailand, and is suitable for preparing all types of Thai dishes or other recipes which call for jasmine rice. You can even mill it into rice flour.
Certified organic rice comes from the latest crop. As such, it is very aromatic, tender, and cooks quickly and evenly.
Lundberg Family Farms California White Jasmine Rice
Grown at the Lundberg Family Farms in California, this jasmine rice is completely organic and non-GMO.
The top-rated rice has a subtle floral scent and a mouthwatering buttery flavor when cooked.
It is perfect for pilafs curries, sweet and sour tofu dishes, and others.
The white jasmine rice is not sticky, but the kernels will stay together after it has been cooked, so it is easy to serve and has a delicious and fluffy texture.
You can boil, steam, fry, cook, and even microwave this rice, and the results will always be great.
Pride of India – Thai White Jasmine Rice
This fragrant Hom Mali Rice by Pride of India is GMO-free, gluten-free, and comes in 1.5 lbs. food-grade plastic BPA-free jars.
The white jasmine rice is aromatic and has a pleasant sweet flavor.
The rice grains are thicker and slightly shorter than some of the other brands, but once the rice is cooked, it will become fluffy, soft, and silky.
It is 100% organic and can be made into excellent shrimp fried rice, served with Thai curry, or for any other recipe which calls for jasmine rice.
Lotus Foods Organic White Jasmine Rice
This organic white jasmine rice by Lotus Foods is grown in family farms in Cambodia and Thailand. The company is devoted to growing crops sustainably, with 50% less water, 90% fewer seeds, 40% less methane, and a harvest of three times more rice. At the same time, the striving is to improve the incomes of the local farmers and give more equally paid jobs to women as well as men.
It is another top-rated brand with more than 25 years of experience in importing high-quality rice.
The rice itself has a unique floral fragrance with a hint of nuttiness and a butter-like soft texture and taste. When cooked, it is fluffy and smooth with a slightly sticky texture making it very palatable.
You can prepare it in a rice cooker, stovetop, or in a wok.
The aromatic organic jasmine rice is sold in 30-oz packs.
Ben’s Original Ready Rice Pouch Jasmine
The Ready Jasmine Rice Pouch by Ben’s Original is a top-selling product. This comes as no surprise because the rice is conveniently packaged and portioned in 8.5-oz pouches and can be prepared in just 90 seconds. This is a dream come true for busy people who don’t have time to cook elaborate dishes, especially on weekdays.
It is easy and quick to prepare, and minimal cleanup is required because you can cook it directly in the pouch. All you need to do is to squeeze it a little and then tear it for proper venting. Then all you need to do is pop it into the microwave, and you will have a bowl of fragrant, soft, and fluffy rice ready for serving.
This ready rice is a perfect choice for preparing different dishes, such as stir-fries, but it is delicious and aromatic enough to be eaten as a snack on its own.
There are no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives added, and the pouch itself is completely BPA-free.
Seeds of Change Organic Jasmine Rice
This is another brand of ready jasmine rice that comes in pouches and is very easy to prepare.
It is sold in 8.5-oz pouches and contains organic jasmine rice with no added artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors.
The rice is grown sustainably by trusted farmers and is aromatic and completely natural. None of its fragrance, texture, or flavors are lost during the packaging.
The process of cooking the rice is quick and straightforward, and because you don’t need to take it out of the pouch before microwaving it, there is no cleanup required either.
The Seeds of Change jasmine rice is a perfect snack to take to work and an excellent choice for a dish or garnish, which you can prepare in just 90 seconds when you are in a hurry. You can serve it with some grated parmesan, add some pine nuts, tuna, and cabbage, or with Thai curry or steamed veggies.
Organic Thai Jasmine Rice Gift Set
This is a fantastic gourmet gift set that you can buy for a foodie friend or your own use.
The Blue Orchid Organic store offers four packs of organic rice in a box. The set includes 8-oz brown jasmine rice, 8-oz red jasmine rice, 8-oz rice berry rice, and an 8-oz healthy rice blend of the other three varieties.
The four different varieties are aromatic, flavorful, and rich in essential nutrients, such as antioxidants, iron, minerals, fiber, and more.
The rice is 100% organic, and even the box is eco-friendly and is made of 100% recycled paper and is printed with natural soy ink.
The Best Recipe for Jasmine Rice
Thai Pineapple Fried Rice by Chef Nagi
This is an excellent fragrant recipe to serve alongside Thai or other Asian dishes.
To prepare the fried rice:
Heat a wok or a non-stick skillet and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
Add 2 finely minced garlic cloves and half finely chopped onion.
Cook them and stir them for 1 minute.
Add diced bell pepper or red capsicum – ¾ and frozen peas – ½ cup and stir for about 30 seconds.
Add three cups of pre-boiled jasmine rice (preferably boiled on the previous day) and stir it with the other ingredients.
Prepare and add the base sauce consisting of 1 ½ tablespoon fish sauce, 2 tablespoons oyster sauce, and ½ tablespoon sugar.
Another alternative base sauce can be made by mixing in 1 ½ tablespoon of soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce.
Stir the sauce into the rice and veggies and keep stirring and cooking them for 2 minutes.
Add 1 ½ cups of cut-up pineapple and cook it through with the other ingredients.
Serve the rice mixed with ½ cup of green onions.
Related: How to Store Rice