The World’s Best Rice 2026 competition was organized by The Rice Trader and the International Commodity Institute as part of the International World Rice Conference, held in Manila, Philippines.
Key Highlights & Results
- Winner (1st Place): Myanmar Paw San (Pawsan) Rice won the World’s Best Rice Award for 2026. This marks the second time Paw San has received the top honor, with its previous victory in 2011.
- 2nd Place: Vietnam – Ong Cua ST25 Rice.
- 3rd Place: Philippines.
- 4th Place (Tied): India and Thailand.
Evaluation Criteria
Entries were judged in a blind assessment by a panel of international chefs and culinary experts. Rice samples were evaluated both in their uncooked and cooked forms based on:
- Grain consistency and appearance
- Aroma
- Texture and mouthfeel
- Flavor and overall taste
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