National Foods introduces new varieties of Mahatma rice

National Foods is introducing new varieties of its premium brand of rice, Mahatma rice, which should appeal to those who enjoy a fragrant rice.

It is packaging them in re-sealable packets, which will be the first time Zimbabwean shoppers have been able to buy rice in re-sealable bags.  Also as a first National Foods has introduced these variants in 1kg packs to give customers an option of buying the 1kg or 2kg packs.

The new Mahatma rice varieties are Mahatma Basmati rice, which is notable for its fragrance and delicate flavour, Mahatma Jasmine rice and Mahatma Brown rice.

All three are expected to start appearing on the shelves of shops and supermarkets this week. They should be available in shops nationwide next week.

Basmati rice is a variety of long grain rice grown in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Its grains are longer than most types of rice. They become even longer when cooked.

Cooked basmati rice grains are characteristically free flowing rather than sticky, unlike most other types of long grain rice. The rice can be uniquely identified by its fragrance when cooked. Basmati rice is available in two varieties, white and brown.

The jasmine rice is an aromatic, long-grain flavoured rice commonly used in Thai and Vietnamese cooking. It has an Indian appeal.

The standard Mahatma rice is a Thai long-grained white rice. It is the most popular high quality rice brand in the country.

A National Foods spokesperson said the new varieties of Mahatma rice would complement well its ordinary white Mahatma rice and other brands of rice that it provides.

Other National Foods rice brands include Red Seal rice, also a Thai rice, Mama Africa rice, Malawi rice and Better Buy rice, a value for money brand.

"The introduction of these new varieties of Mahatma rice are intended to cater for those who prefer a fragrant or brown rice.

"They should complement our standard white Mahatma rice and the other brands of rice that we have brought to the market," he said.

The introduction of new varieties of Mahatma rice follows the company's introduction late last year of the popular Better Buy parboiled rice.

National Foods imports the different varieties of rice from Asia, chiefly from Thailand, which is recognised as producing some of the best rice in the world. It packages the rice at its rice packaging plant in Mutare.