Thailand Fun Facts: Rice!

the fields in our neighborhood.  that ain't corn, by the way.

I was thinking yesterday about starting a new series of posts with fun facts about Thailand.  It will be a learning experience for all of us, as I do not know everything there is to know about Thailand, right?!  I will do one once per week, but not on any particular day.  I am, one would say, busy.  Enough said.

This week, as I passed the rice fields in our area of the New City, I began to wonder about the farmers, their labor, the food I eat everyday and the affect this crop has on the country.  Thus, a post was birthed!  Enjoy learning a little more about the country we, for now, call "home."

Fun Facts About: Rice!


- Thailand is one of the world's biggest rice producers, with paddy output of more than 25 million tons.

- Thailand is also the world's biggest rice exporter.  It is called the "rice bowl of the world!" Its main export markets are Indonesia, Nigeria, Iran, the United States and Singapore.


- Rice has the following nutritional benefits: Low fat, low salt, no cholesterol, low sugar, and no gluten.  Not as seductive as a cinnamon roll, but much better for you.


- 50% of the country's cultivated land is devoted to planting rice


- Rice fields comprise about 35,210 square miles of Thailand, which amounts to almost 18% of the total land area.  That's a lot of fields!


- Rice is the staple food for over HALF of the world's population.


- The most produced strain of rice in Thailand is jasmine rice, a long-grain variety of rice that has a nutty aroma and a subtle pandan-like flavor.  


 - Rice is good, you should try some.  Like, today.  Here's a recipe for Thai Coconut Rice if you're hungry!


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Bored?  Want to test your vocab skills and donate free rice when you get right answers?  Click here.


How do you enjoy rice in your area of the world?  Feel free to share in the comments below.