Best Rice in the World: Indian Basmati Tops TasteAtlas Ranking

India’s beloved Basmati has been named the best rice in the world by TasteAtlas, the Croatia-based food and travel guide. The ranking came in the platform’s 2023-24 year-end awards, and it continues to be widely shared online as a point of national pride.

Top 6 Best Rice in the World

Why Basmati Won

TasteAtlas describes Basmati as a long-grain variety with a nutty, floral and slightly spicy aroma. Once cooked, the grains stay separate and fluffy instead of clumping, which lets curries and stews coat every grain. TasteAtlas also notes that the longer the grain, the better the rice, and the best Basmati has a slight golden hue.

A Rice With Protected Status

Basmati is cultivated in India and Pakistan, and in 2016 India’s Basmati received Geographical Indication (GI) status. That puts it in the same category of protection as Champagne and Parmigiano-Reggiano in the European Union.

India’s Wider Food Recognition

The same TasteAtlas awards named India’s Mango Lassi the Best Dairy Beverage in the World. Indian eateries also featured on its lists of the most legendary restaurants and iconic dessert places.

Why It Matters

Basmati is a major export for India and a staple of dishes like biryani and pulao. A global ranking like this reinforces its reputation on international menus and gives Indian exporters another selling point.

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Note: this ranking is from TasteAtlas’s 2023-24 awards, not a new 2026 award, so I didn’t frame it as breaking news. I couldn’t verify ranks 4 to 6 against a source (one report lists Spain and Japan instead of Vietnam and France), so please check them before publishing.