Not all rice is the same – staggeringly, there are over 40,000 varieties. However, only one variety is heralded as the ‘prince of rice’ – basmati.
Back in the late 1970s, just about when a certain Tim Martin was opening his first Wetherspoon pub, another budding entrepreneur was starting something rather special in the world of rice.
The Thakrar family first introduced the UK to basmati rice over 30 years ago as Tilda began its journey which, today, helps to secure the livelihood of around 10,000 farmers.
This success story is based on three things: the entrepreneurial spirit and vision of the Thakrars, the teamwork and efforts of the farmers and, most important of all, a very tasty and distinctive rice.
As Jon Calland of Tilda explains: “This is a journey which has not been without its problems. Basmati, like all things precious, requires dedicated care throughout its growing life; even when harvested, the rice is allowed to mature for nine months, like a fine wine, for its true nutty flavours and delicate floral aromas to develop.
“True basmati can be grown only in the foothills of the Himalayas, the one place on Earth which has the unique combination of climate and soil conditions on which the basmati grain flourishes.
“Even with these perfect conditions, this rice is an extremely demanding plant, needing intensive care by the Himalayan farmers and requiring nourishment throughout its 155 days’ growth.
“Quite literally, the farmers’ skills have been handed down over the centuries, with many of the original practices surviving to this day – not through adversity, but because nature and man have found a way which works best together – and the rice thrives
with this attention.
“The plant requires specific weather conditions to mature and flourish. Growing much taller than othervarieties, it is more prone to wind damage, so its delicate make-up needs constant vigilance and a great deal more pruning and care, by farmers, than does any other rice.”
11th February 2012
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For how many days does a basmati rice plant grow, before harvesting
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