All varietals of rice are grown in rice paddies like this one.
Rice is a staple food in much of Asia, including Japan, Bangladesh and India. Rice is nutritionally-dense and provides a good source of vitamin B, fiber and protein. Each region has its own unique varieties of rice, which vary by grain length, width and color. Brown rice and sweet rice are just two of the many varietals of rice that are available. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Brown Rice
Brown rice is rice that has only been hulled. Brown and white rice are differentiated by the presence of the bran. Varieties of rice with the bran layer intact are categorized as brown rice, and those with the bran removed are white rice. Much of rice's nutritional value is in the bran, so brown rice is considered to be much healthier than white rice. Brown rice comes in short, medium and long grain varieties.
Sweet Rice
There is a Thai legend surrounding sweet rice that says that eating more than just a few handfuls of the dense, sticky grains will put you right to sleep. Sweet rice, also known as sticky rice and glutinous rice, is the most popular type of rice in Thailand. Sweet rice is a wide, short-grained varietal. Traditionally, it is cooked in bamboo steamers until sticky and the individual grains are supposed to be squished together into small, glutinous balls and dipped into condiments.
Differences
Brown rice, because it has the bran intact, does not tend to stick together as well as white rice. Sweet rice is most commonly sold as a varietal of white rice, and is specifically bred for its high gluten content. Brown rice has more fiber and vitamins than sweet rice, because it has the bran layer intact. The bran layer on brown rice also gives it a nuttier flavor and chewier texture than sweet rice. Additionally, white rices like sweet rice are more traditional in Asian countries, while brown rice tends to be more popular among health food enthusiasts.
Similarities
Both brown rice and sweet rice are varietals of the same species, Oryza sativa. Whether the common rice plant produces brown or white rice is completely based on processing. So, while sweet rice is traditionally made white rice, brown rice varieties of sweet rice are sold, meaning that a grain can be both brown rice and sweet rice at the same time.
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