Top Sticky Rice Brands You Need to Try

Sticky rice, a staple in many Asian cuisines, is beloved for its unique texture and flavor. Choosing the right brand can elevate your dishes, making it crucial to select high-quality options. Popular brands often vary by region, each offering distinct characteristics that cater to diverse culinary needs. To discover the best brands that ensure perfect results every time, explore the list below.

Illustration of sticky rice

Best brands of sticky rice in 2025

Nishiki

Nishiki is a highly regarded brand for producing high-quality Japanese rice, often used as a substitute for traditional Japonica rice due to its medium grain characteristics and higher starch content, making it ideal for sushi and other Japanese dishes. It is one of the most popular types of Japanese rice available in the United States, known for its smooth texture and mild flavor. Nishiki rice, when combined with sushi vinegar, is particularly favored for its taste and versatility. This brand is widely available and has been a preference for many sushi restaurants and home cooks. In the global Japonica rice market, brands like Nishiki contribute to the significant market share held by North America, which accounted for over 40% of the global revenue in 2024. For more details on the difference between sushi rice and Japanese rice, you can check out this informative article.

Botan

Botan brand, particularly its Calrose medium grain rice, is renowned for its quality and suitability as sticky rice. Grown in California with fertile soil and crystal clear water, Botan Calrose rice has an amylose content of about 18%, making it soft and slightly sticky, ideal for various culinary uses, including sushi and plain table rice. This rice is a popular choice among many Chinese restaurants and is known for its tender texture and delicate flavor. Botan Calrose rice is one of JFC's longest-selling and reasonably priced products, highlighting its reliability and consumer preference. Its versatile cooking properties make it an all-purpose rice for diverse cuisines. For more information, visit their product page.

Kokuho Rose

Kokuho Rose, developed exclusively by Koda Farms in the late 1950s, is renowned for its superior table quality and is often considered the best producer of sticky rice. This medium-grain rice, fine-tuned for the micro-climate and soil type of California's San Joaquin Valley, boasts a slightly nutty flavor and a sweet aftertaste, making it ideal for sushi and other rice dishes. It consistently outscores other varieties in taste tests, scoring 84 on a 0-100 scale, significantly higher than most Calrose varieties which score around 70. The rice is carefully bred over at least 12 generations to ensure stability and viability, and it is available in various forms, including brown rice, which retains its bran layer and natural nutrients. Kokuho Rose rice is prized for its sticky texture and is a favorite among chefs and home cooks alike. Learn more about this remarkable variety by visiting the official Kokuho Rose page.

Tamanishiki

Tamanishiki is a highly regarded brand for producing high-quality Japanese short-grain rice, known for its sticky and clingy texture, which is ideal for dishes like sushi and onigiri. This brand is part of the Californian rice industry, with rice grown in the Central Valley, a region known for its favorable climate for rice cultivation. The rice from Tamanishiki is characterized by a higher percentage of amylopectin, which contributes to its sticky texture. In recent years, California's rice plantings, including those for Tamanishiki, have recovered from severe droughts, with substantial rainfall and snowmelt in 2022 and 2023 helping to restore production to pre-2021 levels.

Lundberg

Lundberg Family Farms is renowned for producing high-quality sticky rice, particularly their Organic Short Grain Brown Rice and Organic California Sushi Rice, which are grown using regenerative organic farming practices that support soil health, wildlife habitat, and community strengthening. Since 1937, Lundberg has been committed to organic farming, avoiding GMOs, and offsetting their manufacturing facilities with 100% renewable energy. Their short grain brown rice is a rich source of whole grain goodness, containing 18% of the Daily Value for fiber and 7% protein per serving. The rice is certified by various organizations, including USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Certified Gluten-Free. Lundberg's dedication to earth-preserving practices and careful crop management ensures a superior product.

Sunlee

Sunlee, although primarily known for its high-quality coconut products, does not specialize in sticky rice production. However, if we consider their commitment to quality and food safety standards, it is evident that Sunlee would adhere to stringent criteria if they were to produce sticky rice. Their state-of-the-art production facilities, spanning 50,000 square meters, and their ability to process large quantities of coconut products annually, demonstrate their capacity for high-volume and high-quality food production. Sunlee's products are certified with GHP, HACCP, ISO, and Halal standards, ensuring premium quality. Despite this, their main focus remains on coconut-based products rather than sticky rice. For more details about their offerings, visit their brand page.

Thai Hom Mali

Thai Hom Mali, also known as Jasmine rice, is renowned for its high quality and is one of the world's best rice varieties, although it is not typically associated with sticky rice. It has garnered global recognition by winning the World's Best Rice Award multiple times, including consecutive wins in 2021 and 2020. This rice is distinguished by its fragrant aroma, reminiscent of pandan or screwpine, and its pristine white grain color. In 2017, Thailand exported 11.63 million metric tons of rice, with a significant portion being Hom Mali, known for commanding prices 50% or more above other rice varieties. For more insights, explore this comprehensive guide on Thai Hom Mali, the World’s Best Rice.

Royal Umbrella

Royal Umbrella is a renowned brand for high-quality Thai rice, particularly known for its Jasmine and glutinous (sticky) rice. The brand ensures stringent quality standards, such as a maximum of 5% broken kernels and 14% moisture content for its Jasmine rice, making it a top choice for consumers. In 2017, Thailand, where Royal Umbrella operates, exported a record 11.63 million metric tons of rice, with a significant portion being Jasmine rice. Royal Umbrella's glutinous rice, also known as sticky rice, is a short-grain variety that is sticky when cooked and is a staple in Thai cuisine. The brand's commitment to quality and traditional processing methods has made it a favorite among those seeking authentic Thai rice. For more information, you can explore their offerings through their supplier listings.

Three Ladies

Three Ladies brand is highly regarded for its high-quality sticky rice, often recommended by those familiar with Southeast Asian cuisine. This brand is particularly noted for its 'new crop' labeling, which ensures the rice is from the current year, a factor that significantly impacts the flavor and texture of the rice. Sticky rice, also known as glutinous or sweet rice, is a staple in many Asian cultures, with Laos having the highest per-capita consumption at 171 kg or 377 pounds per year. The brand's consistency and quality make it a favorite among those who consume sticky rice regularly. For those seeking authentic and flavorful sticky rice, Three Ladies brand is a reliable choice. You can watch a related video here.

Mochi Rice by Shirakiku

Shirakiku is renowned for producing high-quality mochi rice, a traditional staple known for its sticky texture. Their mochi rice is meticulously milled to ensure the perfect consistency, making it ideal for various Japanese dishes. Available in large quantities, such as a 10-pound package, Shirakiku mochi rice is a favorite among those who value authenticity and quality in their rice products. With a long history of satisfying customers, Shirakiku's mochi rice has garnered positive reviews for its traditional taste and texture. This product is particularly popular for making mochi and other Japanese delicacies.