Kaifeng Rice

Kaifeng Rice

　　Rice cultivation has a long history in Kaifeng. Records of rice planting in the capital can be found in the "Food and Commodities Annals" of the History of Song, and Chen Jinghan of the Song Dynasty also documented in his work "Compendium of All Flowers"…

　　…that rice was grown in the urban areas of Kaifeng. This shows that rice was cultivated in Kaifeng as early as the Northern Song Dynasty. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, through the construction of water conservancy projects diverting water from the Yellow River in the suburbs…

　　…rice cultivation gradually expanded in area and has now become the grain crop with the highest economic returns.

　　Kaifeng rice has long been renowned both within and outside the province for its large grains, smooth texture, translucent color, and rich nutrition. Cooked into dry rice, it is sweet and delicious, firm yet not hard, soft yet not sticky. When used for congee, it gives off a fragrant aroma with a broth as smooth as melted gelatin, making it an ideal porridge for new mothers and infants. In recent years, the fame of Kaifeng rice has spread far and wide, earning a reputation alongside Bianliang watermelons…

　　…and becoming a renowned local agricultural specialty. Friends, relatives, and tourists from near and far often take some Kaifeng rice back with them as a tasty souvenir when leaving Kaifeng.

　　The unique qualities of Kaifeng rice mainly stem from the fact that the surrounding land has been irrigated multiple times by the waters of the Yellow River. The soil is sandy and loose (commonly called “golden-sand soil”), fertile, with distinct seasons, abundant sunlight, and nourished by the nutrient-rich waters of the Yellow River. Additionally, farmers in Kaifeng traditionally grow spring-planted rice varieties with longer growth cycles, which are superior in both texture and taste compared to summer-planted rice.

　　The reason why Kaifeng rice is so distinctive is mainly due to the fact that the land around Kaifeng has been irrigated many times by Yellow River water. The soil is sandy and loose (commonly known as “golden-sand soil”), fertile…

　　…with four distinct seasons, ample sunlight, and irrigation from the fertile waters of the Yellow River. Moreover, farmers in Kaifeng usually plant spring rice, which has a longer growing period…

　　…and both the texture and taste of spring rice are better than those of summer rice.