Organic Rice Flakes

Rice is a staple in diets all over the world and with good reason, its countless varieties make it an incredibly versatile ingredient, with each type having their own taste, appearance, texture and most importantly nutritional make-ups. Across the world there are over forty thousand varieties of rice being cultivated, so for now we will focus on the most popular types of rice, how to cook them and their health benefits. Long, short or medium, know your grain In most cases rice can be assigned one of three categories, long grain, short grain or medium grain. As its name suggests, short grain rice is typically smaller and rounder with a starchier texture, making it ideal for rice puddings or sushi. Long grain rice on the other hand is longer and thinner, with a fluffier texture, making it well suited for more general recipes. Finally as expected, medium grain rice fits in between long and short grain, it has a slightly sticky starchy texture like short grain rice, but is shaped more like long grain rice, making it a great ingredient for savoury creamy dishes, like paella or risotto.v Long grain white rice Generic long grain white rice is rice that has had its husk, bran and germ removed, this makes it more easily digestible and provides it with its signature almost shiny white colour. White rice has a very neutral flavour which makes it a great base for building a meal around without overwhelming any other ingredients. However, as white rice has had its bran and germ removed it is less nutritionally well rounded than brown rice, so it is important to balance it with nutritionally complete ingredients. That is not to say that white rice isn’t healthy in its own right, it is still a good source of easily digestible carbohydrates, and if you buy enriched white rice then it can be a good way to increase your vitamin B and iron intake. While it can vary from brand to brand, generally speaking, when cooking white rice follow the ratio of 1 cup of rice to 2 cups of water. Brown rice Unlike white rice, brown rice still has its bran and germ intact, this allows it to retain its fibre, making it slightly harder to digest but much more nutritionally complete. As well as having more fibre, brown rice also provides a lot more magnesium, iron and b vitamins than generic white rice would. Being nutritionally dense is not the only reason to opt for brown rather than white rice, it also has a lower glycaemic index. The glycaemic index is a way of categorising how quickly carbohydrates raise blood sugar levels, so generally speaking the lower a food's glycaemic index is, the better it is for both energy release and heart health. The nutritional power of brown rice is the primary reason for its massive popularity, but its slightly nutty taste and chewy texture makes it much less versatile than white rice, and its cooking time is often longer. Jasmine VS Basmati Rice Both Jasmine and Basmati rice are incredibly popular long-grained and aromatic and white, but their textures and subtle differences in flavour give them very different uses. Basmati rice originates from south asia, and is most commonly used in indian and pakistani cuisines. The rich nutty flavour of basmati rice makes it a great accompaniment to intense spices, and its firm yet fluffy texture goes perfectly with creamy curries and dals. On the other hand, jasmine rice hails from thailand and cambodia, and it has a much more delicate almost floral flavour, and a sticky clumpy texture. It is in this sticky texture that jasmine rice really sets itself apart from other white rices, and is what makes it so well suited to east asian cuisine. Basmati rice has a marginally lower glycaemic index, and contains slightly more fibre making it a little bit healthier than jasmine rice overall, but it is best to use each rice according to the meal you are cooking unless you are purely focusing on their health benefits. It is also important to note that jasmine and basmati rice have different cooking instructions, as basmati rice is hardier it requires soaking before it is cooked, and often needs to be cooked for longer than jasmine rice. Wild rice - why is it so amazing? Wild rice is a type of grass originating from north america, where it was a staple part of native american diets for centuries. Much like generic brown rice, wild rice has a chewy texture and a very rich earthy taste, but it also has the benefit of being incredibly nutritionally balanced. Rich in protein, with a middling glycaemic index, and an abundance of antioxidants, wild rice is arguably more nutritionally well rounded than the majority of traditional rices. As wild rice is so chewy it can be a great help in making any meal more filling, particularly stews and soups but also as a stuffing for vegetables or meats. The two golden rules for cooking rice: ● It is always best to thoroughly wash your rice before you cook it, not just to remove any unwanted debris but also to remove excess starch. Excess starch is often what gives rice an unpleasant sludge-like texture which can derail an entire meal. ● Different ratios of water to rice can drastically alter the texture of your rice, for example when cooking white rice, a ratio of 2:1 (liquid to rice) will produce a softer rice, whereas a ratio of 1:1 will produce a tougher chewier final result. Why you should be cooking with rice more often? Once you understand the advantages and disadvantages of different types of rice, as well as their unique textures and flavour profiles, cooking with rice becomes significantly easier, and a lot more fun! Not only are there thousands of types of rice, there are also countless ways to experiment with them, so whether you’re a master chef or just looking to try new things, using different varieties of rice and cooking them in different ways is a great way to open culinary doors while staying healthy. Rice is a staple in diets all over the world and with good reason, its countless varieties make it an incredibly versatile ingredient, with each type having their own taste, appearance,texture and most importantly nutritional make-ups. Across the world there are over forty thousand varieties of rice being cultivated, so for now we will focus on the most popular types of rice, how to cook them and their health benefits. Long, short or medium, know your grain: In most cases rice can be assigned one of three categories, long grain, short grain or medium grain. As its name suggests, short grain rice is typically smaller and rounder with a starchier texture, making it ideal for rice puddings or sushi. Long grain rice on the other hand is longer and thinner, with a fluffier texture, making it well suited for more general recipes. Finally as expected, medium grain rice fits in between long and short grain, it has a slightly sticky starchy texture like short grain rice, but is shaped more like long grain rice, making it a great ingredient for savoury creamy dishes, like paella or risotto. Long grain white rice: Generic long grain white rice is rice that has had its husk, bran and germ removed, this makes it more easily digestible and provides it with its signature almost shiny white colour. White rice has a very neutral flavour which makes it a great base for building a meal around without overwhelming any other ingredients. However, as white rice has had its bran and germ removed it is less nutritionally well rounded than brown rice, so it is important to balance it with nutritionally complete ingredients. That is not to say that white rice isn’t healthy in its own right, it is still a good source of easily digestible carbohydrates, and if you buy enriched white rice then it can be a good way to increase your vitamin B and iron intake. While it can vary from brand to brand, generally speaking, when cooking white rice follow the ratio of 1 cup of rice to 2 cups of water. Brown rice: Unlike white rice, brown rice still has its bran and germ intact, this allows it to retain its fibre, making it slightly harder to digest but much more nutritionally complete. As well as having more fibre, brown rice also provides a lot more magnesium, iron and b vitamins than generic white rice would. Being nutritionally dense is not the only reason to opt for brown rather than white rice, it also has a lower glycaemic index. The glycaemic index is a way of categorising how quickly carbohydrates raise blood sugar levels, so generally speaking the lower a food's glycaemic index is, the better it is for both energy release and heart health. The nutritional power of brown rice is the primary reason for its massive popularity, but its slightly nutty taste and chewy texture makes it much less versatile than white rice, and its cooking time is often longer. Jasmine VS Basmati Rice: Both Jasmine and Basmati rice are incredibly popular long-grained and aromatic and white, but their textures and subtle differences in flavour give them very different uses. Basmati rice originates from south asia, and is most commonly used in indian and pakistani cuisines. The rich nutty flavour of basmati rice makes it a great accompaniment to intense spices, and its firm yet fluffy texture goes perfectly with creamy curries and dals. On the other hand, jasmine rice hails from thailand and cambodia, and it has a much more delicate almost floral flavour, and a sticky clumpy texture. It is in this sticky texture that jasmine rice really sets itself apart from other white rices, and is what makes it so well suited to east asian cuisine. Basmati rice has a marginally lower glycaemic index, and contains slightly more fibre making it a little bit healthier than jasmine rice overall, but it is best to use each rice according to the meal you are cooking unless you are purely focusing on their health benefits. It is also important to note that jasmine and basmati rice have different cooking instructions, as basmati rice is hardier it requires soaking before it is cooked, and often needs to be cooked for longer than jasmine rice. Wild rice, and why it’s amazing: Wild rice is a type of grass originating from north america, where it was a staple part of native american diets for centuries. Much like generic brown rice, wild rice has a chewy texture and a very rich earthy taste, but it also has the benefit of being incredibly nutritionally balanced. Rich in protein, with a middling glycaemic index, and an abundance of antioxidants, wild rice is arguably more nutritionally well rounded than the majority of traditional rices. As wild rice is so chewy it can be a great help in making any meal more filling, particularly stews and soups but also as a stuffing for vegetables or meats. The two golden rules for cooking rice: ● It is always best to thoroughly wash your rice before you cook it, not just to remove any unwanted debris but also to remove excess starch. Excess starch is often what gives rice an unpleasant sludge-like texture which can derail an entire meal. ● Different ratios of water to rice can drastically alter the texture of your rice, for example when cooking white rice, a ratio of 2:1 (liquid to rice) will produce a softer rice, whereas a ratio of 1:1 will produce a tougher chewier final result. Why you should be cooking with rice more often: Once you understand the advantages and disadvantages of different types of rice, as well as their unique textures and flavour profiles, cooking with rice becomes significantly easier, and a lot more fun! Not only are there thousands of types of rice, there are also countless ways to experiment with them, so whether you’re a master chef or just looking to try new things, using different varieties of rice and cooking them in different ways is a great way to open culinary doors while staying healthy.

Have you tried to cook rice and failed? Is your cooked rice too soft or too hard and stuck to the bottom of the pot? Do you think cooking rice is a nightmare? If you answered yes to at least one of these questions, this article it for you! Indeed, rice may be one of those problematic ingredients in the kitchen and you may think it's hard to cook it correctly. But once you learn a few tips, you will realise it's actually very easy. And pleasant - as in a maximum of twenty minutes, you will be able to enjoy beautifully cooked rice and half of your lunch or dinner ready. Tip 1 - Rinse the rice Just place the rice under the tap and wash it with cold water. Rinsing the rice will help you get rid of the starch. Starch is that dusty thing that makes rice too sticky, and we definitely don't want it here. Tip 2 - Use a good pot The best pots to cook rice are those made with stainless steel and aluminium. They allow the heat to be distributed evenly. Use a medium size pot with a lid. Tip 3. Magic ratio 1:2 You should always check the packaging of the rice for cooking instructions. But remember the ratio of 1:2. This means we need one part of rice and two parts of water (never the opposite). For Basmati rice, for example, you can use a bit less water. Tip 4 - Add salt and rice to boiling water Bring the water to boiling and add some salt depending on the amount of rice you're cooking. When you add rice, the water temperature will decrease quickly and will stop boiling. Tip 5- Keep the lid on Always keep the lid on your rice pot. Cook the rice on low heat and let it simmer. You don't want the water to cook faster than the rice gets soft. You want the steam to stay inside the pot. Tip 6 - You can add spices Now, it's a good moment to add spices. You can use whatever spices you like. You can cook rice with cardamon seeds or bay leaves for a unique flavour. You can also add a spoon of plant-based butter or olive oil (if you prefer). Tip 7 - Cooking time: 18 minutes for white rice & 30 minutes for brown rice White rice only needs 18 minutes to get tender, while brown rice needs 30 minutes to cook. Set a timer to know more or less when the rice is ready. Sometimes, it may need another 1 or 2 minutes to be cooked to perfection. There shouldn't be any water left in the pot, but if there is a lit bit left, it's not a biggie - just drain it out. Check the rice - if it is tender, then it's ready. Tip 8 - Put it aside for a few minutes Before serving, rice needs some time to cool down. Just take the pot from the stove and leave it alone for a few minutes. You can remove the lid while waiting and enjoy the view of your beautifully cooked rice :)

In the world of health food, the word "organic" is often tossed around as a generic buzzword. You’ll see it on cafe menus, farmers' market stalls, and supermarket aisles. But at Whole Food Earth, we believe that if you’re investing in your health, "taking our word for it" isn't enough. You deserve proof. We are thrilled to announce that Whole Food Earth is officially certified by Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G). But what does this actually mean for that 6kg bag of oats in your pantry or the raw cacao liquor in your mixing bowl? Let’s strip back the jargon and look at the gold standard of UK organic food. What is OF&G? Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G) is one of the UK’s leading organic certification bodies, authorised by Defra. While many people are familiar with the Soil Association, OF&G is a powerhouse in the British organic sector, certifying over half of the UK's organic land. To carry the OF&G spark logo, a business must prove that every single step of its process—from the farm to our UK dispatch station—meets strict legal requirements set out by the UK government. The Standards: What We Had to Prove Receiving this certification isn't a "one-and-done" paperwork exercise. It is a continuous, rigorous audit of our entire operation. To remain OF&G certified, we must demonstrate: Total Traceability: We have to prove exactly where every grain, nut, and seed came from. If we sell a bag of Organic Quinoa, we can trace its "passport" back to the specific organic farm it was harvested from. Zero Cross-Contamination: Our warehouse and packing facilities are strictly monitored. We must ensure that organic products never come into contact with non-organic items or prohibited synthetic chemicals. No GMOs or Synthetic Pesticides: The OF&G seal guarantees that the food you’re eating was grown without the use of artificial fertilisers, sewage sludge, or genetically modified organisms. Environmental Stewardship: Organic farming isn't just about what isn't in the food; it's about what is in the soil. OF&G standards ensure that our suppliers are actively supporting biodiversity and soil health. What This Means for You, the "Pro" Consumer Whether you’re a parent trying to reduce your child’s exposure to Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs) or a professional baker crafting artisan sourdough, this certification is your safety net. Peace of Mind: You no longer have to guess if "natural" actually means "clean." The OF&G logo is a legal guarantee of purity. Nutrient Density: Research suggests that organic crops can contain higher levels of certain antioxidants and minerals because they are grown in living, nutrient-rich soil. Support for British Standards: By choosing OF&G-certified products, you are supporting a system that holds British food businesses to the highest possible ethical and environmental standards. Ready to upgrade your pantry? Look for Organic Cooking Essentials and Organic Ingredients across our site and shop with the confidence that you are getting the very best "Earth-to-Table" nutrition available in the UK - we actually call it "Earth to Pantry". :) Shop Our OF&G Certified Organic Collection