Why is Tilda basmati rice so popular? [closed]
I've never used Tilda rice before, but I'm considering trying it and I wonder if it's worth the cost. I usually use India Gate or whatever is on sale, which is almost half the price of Tilda for the same weight. I don't see the same level of hype for other basmati rice brands as for Tilda, but I also see a lot of criticism of the brand, people saying it gets mushy, it's flavourless, it's overpriced, etc.
Can someone shed light on why there are so many hardcore Tilda fans? Is it because a lot of people grew up with it and are used to the taste? Is it the price driving a "placebo" of sorts and raising expectations? Or is it genuinely more fragrant and better textured than other basmati rice brands?
Best Answer
I don’t know to what degree things have changed over the years, but according to this article from The Independent in 2000 there is a lot of fraud in the rice business, with Patna or hybrid rices being passed off as Basmati.
Just as fraudulent dealers bulk up Darjeeling tea with inferior leaves, for some time now unscrupulous traders have been passing off inferior grain as basmati or adulterating it.
I contacted the Rice Association, a branch of the Food & Drink Federation, to hear that the Ministry of Agriculture exposed the scam over a year ago. Samples of 41 basmati rices were sent to Nottingham University, where the DNA "fingerprints" were compared with those of authentic basmati. No fewer then 19 samples were found to be adulterated.
Tilda have closer control over their supply chain than many other suppliers and, in testing, were not found to have substitute rice varieties being mis-sold.
Tilda, a leading rice importer which buys direct from the Punjab through its own agents, was responsible for seven of the 22 authentic basmatis in the test.
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Which brand is best basmati rice?
Here's A List Of 4 Best Basmati Rice Options To Choose From:Is Tilda Indian or Pakistani?
Tilda is the brand name used since 1970 for a rice and related food products company now headquartered in Rainham, England and with offices in Dubai, (UAE) and Delhi (India).Where is Tilda Basmati rice grown?
This unique grain is known for its tantalising flavour, magical aroma and delicate fluffy texture. Like champagne, Pure Basmati rice can only be grown and harvested in one place on Earth, at the foothills of the Himalayas.Who bought Tilda rice?
As part of its strategy to become a global benchmark in premium food, Ebro Foods, S.A. has purchased from Hain Celestial 100% of the companies and assets through which the global Tilda business is conducted.Which Basmati Rice - Tilda or Non Brand
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