Rice (Oryza sativa) is one of the oldest cereal grains in the world, and people have grown it for at least 5,000 years.
Rice is a staple food for more than halfTrusted Source of the world’s population, and 90% of the world’s rice comes from Asia.
There are thousands of types of rice, but depending on how producers process them, they fit into two groups: white or brown (whole grain).
White rice is the most common type, though brown rice offers more health benefits. Brown rice comes in a variety of shades, including reddish, purplish, or black.