Basmati Rice : Authenticity Rules
The new authenticity rules aim to remove sub-standard varieties from the market
- India produces nearly three-quarters of the world’s basmati, however, a huge number of newly cultivated varieties lack the unique popcorn-like fragrance that helps to make this rice so sought after.
- So, UK and EU rice associations have introduced new rules that will come into effect at the beginning of 2023 that aim to take lesser varieties of basmati off the market.
- To qualify as basmati, grains must meet certain standards related to things like fragrance ( due to the BADH2 gene), grain length and width, as well as cooked texture.
- They must also have a mid-range level of amylose, a part of the starch in the rice.
- Since 2017, the Indian Patent Office has given GI tag for Basmati rice, thereby protecting the exclusivity of the long-grain fragrant rice across the world.
