How many can you answer? Trivia and fun facts quiz about rice

chili pepper

The vegetable that has long been used as an insect repellent when storing rice is chili pepper. When chili peppers are stored together with rice, the capsaicin they contain makes it harder for insects to approach, so they have traditionally been used to prevent infestations.

refrigerator

Rice is sensitive to heat and humidity, and leaving it at room temperature or in sunny spots accelerates deterioration. In particular, temperatures above 20°C make insects and mold more likely to appear. If you store rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator’s vegetable compartment, the lower temperature and humidity help it last longer and prevent insects and mold.

Bangladesh

The country with the highest per capita rice consumption in the world is Bangladesh. Most of its people eat a large amount of rice every day, and it is indispensable as a staple food. Even among Asian countries, rice culture is particularly deeply rooted there. Laos and Cambodia follow. Incidentally, Japan ranks 50th.

7 people

The correct answer is “seven people.” There’s a saying that “seven gods dwell in a single grain of rice.” These seven gods refer to water, earth, wind, insects, clouds, the sun, and people. The phrase carries the message that we should eat with gratitude and not waste rice or food.

pre-washed rice

Musenmai (pre-washed rice) is rice from which the bran and other residues on the surface have been removed in advance, so it can be cooked without washing. Not only does it save effort, but it also conserves water, making it popular among busy people today. On the other hand, glutinous rice and brown rice need to be washed.

rice paid as land tax (tribute rice)

Nengu-mai refers to rice and other agricultural products, or in-kind taxes in place of them, that peasants paid to landowners or the shogunate mainly during Japan’s Edo period. It can be considered a prototype of today’s tax system, in which peasants delivered rice to the state according to the land’s production.

May–June

Rice planting is generally done around May to June. The timing varies slightly by region, but this period is the most common in Japan. By planting in spring, the rice grows during the warm summer and can be harvested in autumn.