On 2/28/2011 1:39 PM, sf wrote:
> On Mon, 28 Feb 2011 12:11:37 -1000, > wrote:
>
>> On 2/28/2011 8:45 AM, sf wrote:
>>> On Mon, 28 Feb 2011 01:13:59 -1000, > wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> The term "sticky rice" is a meaningless one since it's used for Japan
>>>> style rice and mochi rice - two different types of rice. Japanese rice
>>>> is a short grain rice and mochi rice is made of rice that is high in
>>>> gluten and has a chewy, gooey texture when cooked. It's pretty much a
>>>> mass of confusion out there. If the rice is described as "sweet" or
>>>> glutenous rice it's mochi rice. If it's called "Japanese sticky rice" it
>>>> could be either one. If it's called "Thai sticky rice" it's mochi rice.
>>>
>>> Thanks for clearing that up. I have the mochi rice... which I use in
>>> biko, not mochi. What do you use for Japanese style eating rice?
>>>
>>
>> Near as I can tell, the Japanese and Koreans will eat the same rice -
>> short or medium grain rice that's prepared on the sticky side. The most
>> popular stuff that's consumed here and on the mainland of this style is
>> Calrose rice which comes in 20 lb bags.
>
> Okay, medium is my go to rice and Calrose is the brand I have on hand
> now. Calrose comes in 5 lb bags here on the mainland. I wonder why
> you have to buy such large quantities in Hawaii? I know for rice
> eaters a 20 bag is nothing, but we just don't store that much rice.
> You need a garbage bin for it.

20 lb seems excessive but that's the way it's done here. Some people eat
rice 3 times a day. This place is wacky for rice, as is most of Asia, I
think.

>
> Short grain rice is almost impossible to find. I found a premium
> short grain rice that looked promising once, but it was a 20lb bag.
> We eat a lot of rice, but I don't buy bags that big.

Typically, I'll just buy the cheapest rice I can get - there's some
fancier and more expensive brands around. My wife bought some extra
special rice for her mother but it tasted like rice to me. :-)

>>
>> The Chinese and Thais and probably the Vietnamese prefer a longer grain
>> rice. This is less sticky and they tend to prepare it "al dente." For
>> some reason, these tend to come in smaller bags of 5 lb or less.
>
> Thanks for the cultural lesson. Much appreciated!
>