Jump to content
Home > Blog > Cooking Inspiration > Why Basmati Is Best
Cooking Inspiration

Why Basmati Is Best

17 March 2022

Tildalicious

The Reasons Why Basmati Is Best

If you think rice is just rice, here are just a few of the reasons why Basmati is best and why to choose Basmati over ordinary rice.

Basmati Is a Healthy ‘Supergrain’

Basmati is gluten-free and low in fat. It contains all eight essential amino acids and folic acid, is very low in sodium and has no cholesterol.

Basmati has a low to medium glycaemic index, meaning that energy is released at a slower, steadier rate leading to a more balanced level of energy.

Basmati Is a Taste Sensation

Tilda Basmati tastes like no other rice on earth. Unlike ordinary long-grain rice, the light, fluffy texture of Basmati’s long, slender grains offers the palate a totally different experience in terms of mouth-feel and taste – distinctive, unique and slightly ‘nutty’.

Basmati Has a Wonderful Aroma

Literally translated as ‘the fragrant one’, Basmati has been described as having the aroma of sun-baked wood and flowers. If you want to sell your house, just cook Tilda Basmati rice instead of baking bread!

Tilda Basmati Is the Champagne of Rice

Likened to champagne, Tilda Pure Basmati is steeped in centuries of legendary tradition and heritage. Like a fine wine, Basmati improves with age, and relies entirely on nature for its very special characteristics. We store our Basmati for months in order for it to mature, before carefully milling it, resulting in a deeper and richer flavour.

Basmati Requires Constant Love and Affection

There is only one Basmati harvest a year, and the plant requires specific weather conditions to mature and flourish. It is much taller than other rices, and so is prone to wind damage. Its delicate make-up explains the constant need for vigilance and care by the farmer, yet allows the plant to develop its complex and unique flavour and characteristics. This constant love and affection is reflected in its premium price compared to ordinary long-grain rice.

Tilda Basmati Is a Dream To Cook

Cooking with Tilda Basmati means light, delicate and separate grains.

That’s because we carefully mill our grains, rejecting broken grains that would otherwise release starch and cause the rice to become sticky. Uniquely, the Basmati grain expands more than twice its dry length during cooking. Unlike other types of rice, the grains only expand lengthways resulting in the grains retaining their long slender characteristic when cooked.

Tilda Basmati Extremely Versatile

The open texture of Tilda Basmati allows the grain to absorb other flavours, making it a sociable partner to a whole host of recipes.

Tilda Is Accountable

We consider ourselves ‘Guardians’ of Basmati, and from the very beginning have worked tirelessly to ensure that the legend of Pure Basmati continues to flourish. We adopt a ‘fair play’ policy, working with the farming communities of the Basmati growing region. It is a unique relationship. We support traditional farming with free growing advice via FACE our Farmers Advisory Cell and we provide Basmati seed to farmers at no profit.

Basmati – The Legend Lives On

For over 50 years, we have been committed to preserving this legendary rice. Today the farmers still grow Basmati using the methods of nurturing this precious grain that have been passed down from generation to generation. Our experienced buyers have only one brief – to buy the best Basmati, regardless of price. It’s as valuable to those who grow it as it is for those who cook with it.

We Love Tilda Basmati

Basmati is now the most popular type of dry rice with UK consumers. Sales of Basmati rice have grown every year for the past 20 years and now account for over 50% of the rice sold in the UK.



Lean more about our 50-year journey

Read more