Thai jasmine rice

Thai jasmine rice

Thai jasmine rice is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　   Thai jasmine rice is a long-grain rice variety originating from Thailand and is a type of indica rice. Renowned worldwide for its fragrant, sticky texture and unique pandan-like aroma, it is the second most exported rice variety in the world, after Indian basmati rice.

　　　    【Chinese Name】 Thai jasmine rice  Thai jasmine rice

　　   【Thai Name】 ข้าวไทย

　　   【English Name】Thai rice.

　　   The English commercial name for Thai jasmine rice is Jasmine Rice, which is transliterated from Thai as: Hom Mali (meaning: fragrant jasmine). The best Thai jasmine rice is primarily produced in northeastern Thailand, especially in provinces such as Roi Et, Ubon Ratchathani, Buriram, Sisaket, Surin, and Yasothon.

　　   Thai jasmine rice can only achieve its best quality in its place of origin. This is due to the region’s unique growing conditions—especially during the flowering stage of the rice, when the cool climate, bright sunlight, and gradually decreasing soil moisture during grain filling play a crucial role in the development and accumulation of its distinctive fragrance.

　　   History of Thai jasmine rice

　　　　      Thailand has a rice cultivation history of over 5,000 years, but only the famous Thai jasmine rice is considered a source of national pride. In 1945, a farmer in Chon Buri Province in eastern Thailand discovered the KDML rice variety, where KDML stands for Khao Dawk Mali, meaning “white jasmine” in Thai. The KDML seeds later spread to neighboring Chachoengsao Province, where the local agricultural authorities collected 199 rice panicles. At the Lop Buri Rice Experiment Station in Khok Samrong District, central Thailand, they began single-panicle selection breeding of KDML using pure-line selection methods. Excellent strains were selected and tested in the northern, northeastern, and central regions of Thailand. On May 25, 1959, it was officially named Thai Hom Mali Rice (or KDML105), and later became one of the main rice varieties used in Thailand. Although KDML105 usually has a very low yield, proper field management techniques can enable high yields of KDML105.