Basmati Rice is long-grain rice commonly grown in the Himalayas, India, and Pakistan. India is producing about two-thirds of the world's supply. It is typically available in white and brown varieties.

White Basmati is very common, Brown Basmati Rice can be found at many health food stores. Brown rice is higher in fibre and has a nuttier, more intense flavour with a stiffer texture. Its cooking time is longer than white rice.

Basmati rice is very popular served with various Indian curries like rice pilaf a side dish of grains cooked in a flavoured stock and aromatics with other ingredients tossed in like nuts, vegetables etc . Pilafs probably originated in India but quickly spread and are now common dish in many parts of the world.

Rice other than basmati rice is called Non- Basmati Rice. There are 1000 varieties of rice, the maximum number being in India. In fact, basmati rice equals to only 1% production of the total rice grown in India.

Non- basmati rice comes in all kinds of different shapes and sizes. Some are long and slender, some are short and thick, some are like beads, and some may be round. None have the same characteristics as basmati rice. Some names of non-basmati rice are shaped like basmati rice and PR, 104 IR8, IR 64, Masuri.