The price of rice is skyrocketing, and it's pushing millions more people towards starvation - eviltoast

The Indian rice export ban, the war in Ukraine and El Niño are combining to create a “doom loop” for the world’s poorest people, as staple food prices soar.

    • woooferine@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Hong Kong here. We have rice almost everyday and apparently, we don’t import them from India. Yet the “Rice Association” said that due to the India ban, the price of rice in Hong Kong will likely to rise by 10% in October.

      The nations used to import from India are buying from everyone else, and that drives up the prices.

      Edit: typo

      • NuPNuA@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Same as our energy in the UK, we were never reliant on Russia for our gas, but because countries like Germany didn’t cut themselves off fast enough they were suddenly bidding up what we usually buy when the sanctions came in.

    • Parsnip8904@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      Because they’re really different. People who don’t eat rice as a staple aren’t aware how much varieties there are and how different they taste. There are three specific varieties used just in my own house for lunch, breakfast dishes and dinner respectively.

      Japanese or Thai rice are totally different in taste, consistency and texture.

      It would be like trying to bake using whole wheat flour instead of refined flour.

    • YⓄ乙 @aussie.zone
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      1 year ago

      I think its the quality and people only want to consume high quality rice… I tried Thai jasmine and Indian basmati. Can confirm Indian Basmati is really good when compared to jasmine rice.

      • coleandfries@discuss.tchncs.de
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        1 year ago

        Asian guy here. I use jasmine for Asian dishes, Basmati for Indian and middle eastern dishes, and generic American long grain for Mexican and Cajun dishes. Pairing the right variety of rice with the right cuisine is a simple choice that can really improve the dish.

      • FiskFisk33@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        hmm, I generally prefer thai jasmine over basmati

        they are very different styles, saying one is higher quality than the other is just plain wrong.

        • Zeroxxx@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          At the end of the day, it is about preferenxe. I am Chinese diaspora and have been eating Jasmine more than Basmati since it is not my preference.

          Heck even local rice is better.

      • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        It’s just whatever you’re used to. Thai jasmine rice is amazing, and I wouldn’t eat Thai food with anything else. If you’re used to eating Indian food with basmati, jasmine won’t be a good substitute.

        • 🇰 🌀 🇱 🇦 🇳 🇦 🇰 ℹ️@yiffit.net
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          1 year ago

          I’m used to Minute rice since that’s what my parents used growing up. Not sure what kind of rice that is, but the first time I made something that called for Basmati rice, I didn’t like the rice. It was sweet when I expected earthy. The rest of the recipe was good, and I just use jasmine rice with it instead every time thereafter, since that’s what I buy now over the boxed crap.

      • ijeff@lemdro.id
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        1 year ago

        Must be preference because I greatly prefer Thai Jasmine rice over Indian Basmati. But they’re different.