What Rice to Use

Buy long-grain rice, often known as Patna rice. Never use ‘pudding’ rice, which in Britain means all short-grain rice; it is completely unsuitable. The rice that is usually obtainable in Britain comes from the United States and is of very good quality, though not as fine as the best Javanese rice. (There are, of course, many different kinds of rice to be eaten in a rice-growing country, varying enormously in colour, flavour, and texture).

Branded rice in packets is also perfectly good, but it is relatively very expensive. It may be presumed not to need washing, but rice bought loose or in supermarket packs should be washed in three or four changes of cold water.