Basmati ( , ) is a variety of long grain rice, famous for its fragrance and delicate flavour. Its name means "the fragrant one" in Sanskrit, but it can also mean the "soft rice." India and Pakistan are the largest cultivators and exporters of this rice - primarily grown through paddy field farming in the Punjab region.

The grains of basmati rice are longer than non-basmati varieties. Cooked grains of Basmati rice are characteristically free flowing rather than sticky. Cooked basmati rice can be uniquely identified by its fragrance. Basmati rice is available in two varieties - white rice and brown rice.

Flavour

Basmati rice has a typical pandan-like (Pandanus amaryllifolius leaf) flavour caused by the aroma compound 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline .

Varieties and hybrids

A number of varieties of basmati rice exist. Traditional ones include Basmati-370, Basmati-385 and Basmati-Ranbirsinghpura(R.S.Pura), while hybrid basmati varieties include Pusa Basmati 1 (also called 'Todal', because the flower has awns). Fragrant rices that are derived from basmati stock but are not considered true basmati varieties include PB2 (also called sugandh-2), PB3 and RH-10.

Scientists at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi took the traditional basmati and genetically modified it to produce a hybrid which had most of the good features of traditional basmati (grain elongation, fragrance, alkali content) and the plant was a semi-dwarf type. This basmati was called Pusa Basmati-1. PB1 crop yield is higher than the traditional varieties (up to twice as much).

List of approved varieties

Punjab, Kernel Basmati (Pakistan), Dehradun, Haryana, Super basmati, Kasturi(Baran,Rajasthan), Basmati 198, basmati 217, basmati 370, basmati 385, basmati 386, Bihar, Kasturi, Mahi Suganda, Pusa, Ranbir, Taraori.1 Some non-traditional aromatic crosses with basmati characteristics are marketed under a Sugandh designation.23

DNA markers thwart basmati adulteration

Basmati rice is a special type of aromatic rice known the world over for its extra long grains, and pleasant and distinct aroma. Traditional basmati rice is not only in demand in its domestic markets, but is also seen in the menu of connoisseurs world wide creating a billion-dollar export market. Authentic basmati rice cultivation is confined to the Indo-Gangetic plains of Pakistan and India. Consumer preference for the traditional basmati label not only brings along high returns but also receives duty exemption in some markets.