Rice: It Will Suffice What exactly is rice?

Most commonly, the word “rice” refers to the staple grains Oryza sativa (Asian rice) and Oryza glaberrima (African rice).

While there are plenty of other members of the Oryza family, the hundreds of unique types of rice that are commonly consumed generally come from one of these two species.

Rice, after maize and sugarcane, is the third most produced crop on the planet! In 2014, 741.5 million tons of rice were produced.

It is the most widely consumed staple food for the majority of Earth’s population. So, how did rice become such an important food?

Rice has a very long history! For thousands of years, rice has been produced, transported, and integrated into all sorts of global cultures.

Through long-term cultural diffusion, rice has become a food present in cultural dishes across every continent; Antarctica may be an exception!

To fully understand how rice came to be one of, if not the most important foods on the planet, one must know its history and how it has spread across the globe. From humble beginnings...

Asian rice and African rice, the two species of rice that are commonly produced today, are thought to have first been domesticated thousands of years ago.

African rice is estimated to have been originally domesticated 3,000 years ago in west Africa.

Asian rice, being the elder of the two species, is theorized to have been domesticated 13,500 years ago in the Yangtze River basin.

Spread through Asia

Thanks to its earlier domestication, Asian rice gradually spread through central Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

This was not a sudden shift at all; it happened across thousands of years, thoroughly being integrated into cultures all across Asia.

Primarily through trade from the Indian subcontinent, it arrived in the Middle East later than the rest of Asia.

Into Europe: The Macedonian and the Mediterranean

It is theorized that rice was first introduced to Europe through Alexander the Great’s journeys into Asia around 320 B.C.

Much later, during the 8th century A.D., the Arabs brought rice into Europe through the Iberian Peninsula. While initially being introduced into Portugal, rice spread across the mediterranean into Italy.

Out of the European cultures, rice became the most thoroughly integrated into Italian cuisine. Ever had risotto?

The unfortunate history of rice in the Americas

As the Europeans started globalizing their empires through colonialism, rice was introduced to the “new world” during the 17th century A.D.

This rice, however, was not just Asian rice; in fact, Asian rice was the lesser of the two domesticated species!

Initially transported by Spaniard slave ships, West African slaves first brought African rice into Latin America through Spanish colonialist endeavors.

Eventually, also through the slave trade, rice was introduced to the southern colonies in North America.

Both rice species were present, but African rice was more important.

And finally...

As the English established rice plantations in North America, they continued their colonial efforts across the globe.

Rice, being the valuable crop that it is, made its way into Australia through English settlement.

Rice… in Antarctica?

Rice today

Thanks to its long and rich history, there are tens of thousands of variations of unique variations of rice and an unimaginable amount of recipes that come from so many different cultures around the world.

While maize and sugarcane may beat rice in raw tonnage produced, rice is easily the most culturally significant food in the entire world.

So, what are you waiting for? Go eat some rice! Works cited

Govaerts, R. Oryza L., Sp. Pl.: 333 (1753). wcsp.science.kew.org/namedetail.do?name_id=426595.

Linares, Olga F. African Rice (Oryza Glaberrima): History and Future Potential. 10 Dec. 2002, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC138616/.

Molina, Jeanmaire, et al. “Molecular Evidence for a Single Evolutionary Origin of Domesticated Rice.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, National Academy of Sciences, 17 May 2011, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3101000/.

“Europe.” Ricepedia, ricepedia.org/rice-around-the-world/europe.

“North America.” Ricepedia, ricepedia.org/rice-around-the-world/north-america.

“Rice.” AgriFutures Australia, www.agrifutures.com.au/farm-diversity/rice/.