Here are top jasmine rice brands. Rice is one of the most widely consumed staples in the world. It’s most associated with Asian cuisine, but variations of rice dishes are popular on every continent including Antarctica. There are many varieties of rice, and some are preferred in certain cuisines as opposed to others. Jasmine rice, with its distinctive aroma and soft, fluffy texture, is one of the more common varieties.
There are more than a few jasmine rice brands, which vary widely in quality, taste, and texture. The best jasmine rice brands are flavorful, fragrant, easy to cook, and maintain their texture after cooking. Of course, a reasonable price doesn’t hurt, either!
Below, we’ll look at the eleven best brands of jasmine rice. We’ll consider the pros and cons of each brand, so you can decide for yourself which is best for you. But first, some important information!
What is Jasmine Rice?
Jasmine rice is a long-grained white rice, which smells similar to the jasmine flower. It is native to Thailand, where it is named Thai Hom Mali rice or Thai fragrant rice. Jasmine rice from other areas is available, but the traditional growing and cultivation methods provide the best aroma and flavor.
White vs Brown Jasmine Rice
Brown jasmine rice is nowhere near as popular as white jasmine rice. Many brands still sell brown jasmine rice.
Brown jasmine rice still contains the bran and germ that naturally occurs on the rice grain. It is less processed than white jasmine rice, and takes longer to cook. Brown jasmine rice has a considerably different texture to white jasmine rice.
White vs Jasmine Rice
Jasmine rice and plain white rice might look similar, but they smell and taste completely different.
Plain white rice comes in short, medium, and long grains, and varies wildly in consistency. It can be light as a cloud, or thick and gluey.
Jasmine rice is a specific type of long-grain rice, although it comes in both white and brown varieties. Jasmine rice is immediately identifiable by its heavenly fragrance. True Thai jasmine rice will endow your home with the smell of jasmine when you cook it. White rice, on the other hand, simply smells like grain.
Basmati vs Jasmine Rice
Basmati rice is another popular Asian rice cultivar. Basmati, like Jasmine rice, is a fragrant, long-grained rice. However, Basmati is native to the Himalayas, and is a staple of Indian cuisine, unlike Jasmine rice which is found more in Thai food. Basmati also has a stronger, nuttier aroma and flavor than jasmine rice.
11 Best Jasmine Rice Brands
| Product Name | ||
| 1 | Asian Best Jasmine Rice | Naturally Fragrant, Premium, Low Cholesterol, Low Sodium |
| 2 | Three Ladies Jasmine Rice | Fragrant |
| 3 | Pride Of India Thai White Jasmine Rice | Sold in Sealed Food gourmet jars |
| 4 | Dynasty Jasmine Rice | Quality and budget-friendly jasmine rice |
| 5 | Goya Thai Jasmine Rice | Aromatic and fluffy. Perfect for fried rice. |
| 6 | Seeds of Change Organic Jasmine Rice | Ready in 15 minutes. Naturally gluten free. |
| 7 | Lundberg Organic California Jasmine Rice | Organic, light and buttery |
| 8 | Food to Live Organic Jasmine Rice | Perfect for desserts |
| 9 | Iberia Jasmine Rice | Long and fluffy grain, naturally aromatic. |
| 10 | Mahatma Jasmine Long Grain Rice | Perfect for rice salads, rice pilaf and desserts that contain jasmine rice. |
| 11 | Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice Jasmine | Ready in just 90 seconds, using microwave. |
1.Asian Best Jasmine Rice
With a high percentage of long grains of rice, this traditional Thai Hom Mali rice will have a delicious, fluffy texture when cooked.
Best Features: Premium, traditional style Thai jasmine rice favored by locals.
Biggest Drawbacks: The brand can vary in price as it must be imported from Thailand. It’s best to stock up when the price is low.
2.Three Ladies Jasmine Rice
This is one the major importers from Southern Asia to California. As such, it has a very competitive price.
Best Features: Consistent grain size, competitive price, and strongest aroma.
Biggest Drawbacks: The rice comes vacuum-sealed! This isn’t a traditional way to pack or store rice, but shouldn’t affect the food. It might look weird to some customers.
3.Pride Of India Thai White Jasmine Rice
Pride of India doesn't hold back on the origins of their Jasmine rice!
Best Features: The rice comes in a sturdy, food-grade, BPA-free PET container, so it’s fresher for longer.
Biggest Drawbacks: This is one of the more expensive options on this list, due largely to its superior packaging. Rice in cheaper packages can be of similar quality.
4.Dynasty Jasmine Rice
Dynasty knows that they’re selling to people who cook for big families. You can get their Jasmine rice in multi-packs, or in single packages up to twenty pounds. Nobody’s going hungry after that!
Best Features: Real Thai jasmine rice. It’s budget friendly because you can buy it in bulk.
Biggest Drawbacks: 20 pounds is a lot of rice. You might take a long time to prepare that much unless you’re cooking for a lot of people.
5.Goya Thai Jasmine Rice
Goya are marketing their rice towards Latin American, rather than Asian, cuisine. It’s still imported from Thailand, however.
Best Features: Perfect for fried rice. Traditional imported Thai Hom Mali.
Biggest Drawbacks: This is a decidedly middle-of-the-road rice. It doesn’t have the premium consistency or aroma of other rices on this list.
6.Seeds of Change Organic Jasmine Rice
This rice only takes seconds to heat up in your microwave! Ready-made rice isn’t as traditional, nor as affordable, as the grains you cook yourself, but it sure is convenient.
Best Features: Deceptively delicious and nutritious. This is the best quality ready-made rice. This organic rice cooks in only 90 seconds!
Biggest Drawback: This is not traditional rice. As with all ready-to-eat products, it does not possess the flavor and texture of cooking it yourself.
7. Lundberg Organic California Jasmine Rice
Lundberg takes pride in being a purveyor of premium rice. They’ve been committed to sustainable farming and soil conservation for years, and it shows in the quality of their product.
Best Features: Most nutritious, flavorful organic rice. Organic, kosher, and sustainably grown on US soil.
Biggest Drawback: This is not traditional Thai Hom Mali rice. Its aroma isn’t quite as potent or as floral, and its consistency is slightly starchier than the traditional stuff.
8. Food to Live Organic Jasmine Rice
This organic rice is from another American brand. It’s competitively priced unlike many organic foods, and is available in bulk - even 50-pound bags are available.
Best Features: This rice’s different consistency and more subtle flavor make this rice perfect for desserts and puddings.
Biggest Drawbacks: Imported from Thailand and packaged in the USA, which lengthens the period from farming to your dinner table.
9. Iberia Jasmine Rice
Iberia, as their Spanish-influenced name suggests, focuses their efforts on Latin American and Caribbean cuisine. As a result, this jasmine rice won’t be as optimised for Thai food as traditional jasmine rice from Thailand.
Best Features: Best consistency when cooked. Quality rice at an affordable price, and with growers across the US, Vietnam, and Brazil, it’s available all year long.
Biggest Drawbacks: Weaker flavor and fragrance than rice grown in Thailand.
10. Mahatma Jasmine Long Grain Rice
Mahatma doesn’t specialise in one culture or cuisine. Rather, they specialize in rice and grains.
Best Features: Cooks in fifteen minutes. Competitively priced.
Biggest Drawbacks: As the competitive pricing suggests, this is a thoroughly middle-of-the-road brand. It will do the job but not with the best quality.
11. Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice Jasmine
Uncle Ben is a household name either for being Spiderman’s uncle, or for ready-made rice.
Best Features: Uncle Ben’s is a major brand, and their quality of product reflects that. This is a great microwave rice that also works in a pan or flash-boiled.
Biggest Drawbacks: Uncle Ben’s is not particularly expensive, but it is pricier than buying grains and cooking them yourself.
How To Cook Jasmine Rice
- The best way to cook jasmine rice is in a pot of water that is already boiling.
- Rinsing the grains prior isn’t completely necessary.
- Employ a 1.5:1 ratio: 1.5 cups of water for each cup of jasmine rice.
- Add a ½ teaspoon of salt to your boiling water after adding the rice.
- Jasmine rice will cook in simmering water. Reduce your heat immediately after adding the rice.
- After 15 minutes, your rice will be ready to eat!
Is Jasmine Rice Sticky Rice?
No. Jasmine rice lacks the gluey, glutenous texture that would make it a sticky rice.
It is a long-grain rice, but some brands use broken grains, which does give a stickier texture. Jasmine rice should be fluffy and light, but if you use more water and cook it for longer your jasmine rice will become stickier.
Is Jasmine Rice Gluten Free?
All jasmine rice is gluten free! Rice can be starchy, but does not naturally contain gluten.
Some brands, however, deal with other grains as well, and can contaminate their rice with gluten. Cross-contamination is always a risk in facilities handling gluten-free as well as non-gluten-free foods.
Any brand that is “certified” gluten free will not be processed in a gluten-handling facility.
Recipes that Use Jasmine Rice
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