Top Rice Brands: Flavorful Faves for Your Kitchen

Rice is a staple food consumed globally, and its quality and flavor are significantly influenced by the brand chosen. With a myriad of options available, selecting the right brand can make all the difference in various culinary creations. Some brands focus on traditional processing to maintain authenticity, while others innovate with modern technology to ensure quality and consistency. Eager to discover which brands stand out in the market and why they are worth considering for your next meal? Read on to explore the top choices in the rice industry.

Illustration of rice

Best brands of rice in 2025

Lundberg Family Farms

Lundberg Family Farms is a renowned producer of high-quality, organic rice, with a legacy spanning nearly a century since 1937. The farm, managed by the Lundberg family across four generations, cultivates rice on approximately 20,000 acres in California's Sacramento Valley, with a focus on regenerative and eco-friendly practices. They produce over 17 organic rice varieties, including Arborio, Jasmine, and Basmati, and are certified by stringent standards such as Regenerative Organic Certified®, USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Certified Gluten-Free. The farm's commitment to sustainability is evident in their 100% wind energy offset and significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Lundberg Family Farms also boasts a zero-waste program, recycling 99.7% of their materials.

Tilda

Tilda, a leading premium rice brand, has made significant strides in sustainable rice production through its Alternate Wet and Dry (AWD) irrigation technique. By working with 1,270 farmers in northern India in 2023, Tilda helped increase annual rice yields by 7% and reduced water usage and methane emissions. This method, developed by the International Rice Research Institute, allows fields to dry out between floods, resulting in a 27% lower electricity usage for irrigation per tonne of rice grown. Tilda's initiative is part of its commitment to sustainability, having become the first UK rice company to be B Corp certified in July 2023. The company aims to expand this program to all 2,500 farmers it works with, setting a global standard for responsible rice cultivation. More details about their sustainable practices can be found on their official website.

Nishiki

Nishiki is a highly regarded Japanese brand renowned for its high-quality rice, particularly popular for its dried white rice, which is the number one best-seller on Amazon with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 from over 34,000 reviews. Around 85% of customers give Nishiki a perfect score of 5 out of 5, praising its great smell, taste, ease of cooking, and affordability. Nishiki rice is known for its starchy grains that stick together, with a sweet flavor and chewy texture. The brand is also a key player in the premium Japonica rice market, alongside other well-known brands like Tamaki Gold and Kokuho Rose. Nishiki's success contributes to the growing global Japonica rice market, which is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7% from 2024 to 2031.

Royal

Royal, a renowned brand in the rice industry, is celebrated for its high-quality products, particularly its long-grain and basmati varieties. In 2021, the global rice market, which Royal is a part of, was valued at USD 287.45 billion, with the long-grain segment contributing over 63% of the revenue. Royal's products are popular in regions like the Asia Pacific, which dominates the global rice market with a 77% revenue share. The brand benefits from advancements in rice mill machinery and attractive packaging, driving demand in emerging economies. With the global rice market projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.2% from 2022 to 2028, Royal is well-positioned for continued success. For more information on Royal's product offerings, visit their official website.

Daawat

Daawat, the flagship brand of LT Foods, has established itself as a leading producer of basmati rice, boasting a significant market share of 30.1% in India as of December 2023, according to AC Nielsen retail survey audit. The brand has achieved impressive growth, with its parent company reporting a 9% year-on-year increase in total revenue to Rs 1,950 crore in Q3 FY2024 and a 38% year-on-year rise in EBITDA to Rs 246 crore. Daawat's success is further underscored by its expansion into new product lines, such as Biryani mix and Cuppa Rice, and its strong presence in over 80 countries. The brand's commitment to quality and innovation has enabled it to maintain a dominant position in the basmati rice market. With a CAGR of 12% expected in revenue growth, Daawat continues to solidify its position as a premier rice brand. For more detailed insights, you can view the LT Foods Investors Day presentation.

Mahatma

Mahatma(r), a brand under Riviana Foods Inc., is renowned for its high-quality rice products, having been trusted by American families for over 100 years. Introduced in 1946, Mahatma(r) specializes in long grain enriched rice, with each serving of 1/4 cup dry (3/4 cup cooked) containing 150 calories and no fat grams. The brand offers a wide variety of rice products, including white, whole grain, brown, and flavored rice, with cook times ranging from 90 seconds to 30 minutes. Mahatma(r) is part of Riviana Foods Inc., North America's largest processor, marketer, and distributor of branded and private label rice products. The brand continues to innovate, such as with its Ready to Heat product line introduced in 2019.

Carolina

Carolina Gold rice, once the most popular rice in America, was first commercialized in the 1780s in South Carolina's Lowcountry and Sea Islands. It accounted for 3.5 million of the 5 million bushels of rice produced in the US at the outset of the Civil War. After a decline, it was revived in the 1980s by Dr. Richard and Patricia Schulze, and by 1988, they were harvesting 10,000 pounds per year. Commercial efforts by Anson Mills and Carolina Plantation Rice began in 1998, following the development of a disease-resistant strain at Clemson University. Today, heirloom varieties like Carolina Gold are being reintroduced and grown in historic plantations in the Carolinas. Explore more about Carolina Gold rice and its rich history.

Golden Elephant

Golden Elephant, a brand under Golden Resources Development International Limited, is renowned as one of Hong Kong's best-selling rice brands, particularly with its Premium Jasmine Rice. Founded in 1946, the company innovated by introducing small consumer packs and later enhanced them with handles for convenience. Golden Resources was the first in Hong Kong to apply vacuum treatment to consumer packs, effectively eliminating weevils in rice. The company also introduced environmentally friendly rice bags compliant with European Union standards. Golden Elephant Brand Premium Jasmine Rice became a bestselling brand after the company first imported Australian fragrant rice to Hong Kong in the early 1990s. For more details about their company profile, visit their membership profile.

Lotus Foods

Lotus Foods is a leading heirloom and organic rice company that has made significant impacts in sustainable rice farming. Since 2009, the company has purchased 58.3 million pounds of organic rice, saved 57.1 thousand cumulative tons of CO2e, and conserved 6.1 billion gallons of water through its More Crop Per Drop® program, which utilizes System of Rice Intensification (SRI) methods. These practices minimize water usage, improve soil health, empower women, increase farm incomes, and reduce climate impact. Founded in 1995, Lotus Foods has been at the forefront of promoting organic rice farming and biodiversity, and its products have achieved rigorous certifications such as Regenerative Organic Certified™ (ROC™) Silver. By partnering with small family farmers, Lotus Foods continues to drive sustainable and climate-friendly production methods. For more insights into their impact, explore the Lotus Foods 2022 Impact Report.

Riviana

Riviana Foods, with over 100 years of experience, is a leading rice producer renowned for its high-quality products and state-of-the-art facilities. The company, part of the global Ebro Foods network, ensures the cleanest and most wholesome rice through a rigorous production process from farm to plate. Riviana Foods has recently completed the first phase of an $80.6 million plant expansion in Memphis, Tennessee, doubling production capacity for ready-to-serve rice cups and preparing to add 65,000 square feet for pouch products by early 2025. The company is committed to sustainability, supporting farmers in sustainable practices and reducing water, energy, and emissions in its manufacturing. Riviana's brands, including Minute, Success, Mahatma, and Carolina, are widely recognized for their quality and convenience. For more details on how their rice is produced, visit Riviana's Farm to Plate production.