Even after chowing down on burgers and meatballs, some people are never truly full unless they’ve had their rice fix. It’s gotten to the point where you’ll find wild culinary mashups like pizza with rice, fried noodles served over rice, and even the inception-style meal of eating fried rice—with more rice.

 

Asians eat rice mainly because it's a staple crop in their region, readily available and widely produced. Rice acts as a base for meals, its simple and mild flavor complementing and balancing the richer, savory tastes of the main dishes. This combination enhances the overall meal, providing both substance and harmony in flavors. With Asian countries accounting for about 90% of the world's rice production and consumption, it's clear why rice is such a fundamental part of their diet—it's not just about availability; it's also about how well rice pairs with the diverse and flavorful cuisine found across the continent.

 

Singaporean Hainanese Chicken Rice | Source: VisitSingapore.com

 

In Southeast Asia, rice is pivotal in combating hunger and malnutrition, contributing to 50% of the caloric intake for the population. The region encompasses 48 million hectares of rice fields, nearly 30% of the global rice yield. In 2018, it produced 220 million tons of rice. Notably, Vietnam and Thailand rank among the top three rice exporters globally.

 

Rice field in Sapa, Vietnam

 

Rice is also introduced as a staple food to meet the requirements of the “4 Sehat 5 Sempurna” nutrition program in Indonesia during the late 1900s. According to Travelling Chef Wira Hardiansyah, "In the past, it was not possible to explain to the public what carbohydrates or animal proteins were. Eventually, examples of food shifted towards rice.”

 

4 Sehat 5 Sempurna

 

Apart from habit and culinary influence, the high glycemic content in rice can also trigger an addiction in the brain that keeps us seeking rice. The glycemic index measures how quickly carbohydrates in food are converted into sugar by the body. Because of this sugar content, ideally, one should not consume too many carbohydrates. Adults generally need about 220-300 grams of carbohydrate intake per day, which is roughly equivalent to 3 ladles of rice. This needs to be adjusted for each person, depending on age, gender, activity level, and medical conditions.

 

With the evolution of modern cuisine, do you think the Asian rice obsession is still relevant?