Cereal Grains of the World

The major food grains of the world are: rice, wheat, corn, oats, barley, and rye. They are all part of the grass family.

Rice

The most popular food crop in the world is rice, which is a water grass. It grows in fields called paddies.

• Arborio is an Italian rice used for risotto and other Italian dishes
• Basmati rice is a fragrant rice first grown in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains in India
• Black rice has a black outer layer and is commonly eaten in China, Thailand, and Bali
• Carolina rice is a white, long-grain rice grown in South Carolina. It cooks up dry and fluffy, and is often called American-style rice
• Louisiana pecan rice is a long-grain rice characterized by its aromatic flavor
• Puffed rice is widely eaten in India. This rice puffs out after being heated under pressure
• Wild rice is a ricelike seed of a wild grass that grows in Canada, Minnesota, and Wisconsin

Wheat

China grows the most wheat in the world, followed by the United States, India, France, Russia, and Canada. Wheat has two growing seasons. Winter wheat is sown in fall and harvested in spring. Spring wheat is planted in spring and harvested in late summer. Wheat types are classified by the hardness, color, and kernel shape.

• Hard red winter wheat is ground into an all-purpose flour used to make breads and sweets
• Hard red spring wheat has the highest percentage of protein and is a good bread wheat
• Soft red winter wheat is low in protein and is used for flatbreads, cakes, pastries, and crackers
• Durum wheat is one of the hardest wheats. It is used to make semolina flour for pasta
• Hard white wheat is mild and rather sweet. It is used for Oriental noodles and tortillas
• Soft white wheat is low in protein and is used for making cakes, muffins, and pastries

Corn

Corn first grew in the Americas. Today it is grown on every continent except Antarctica. In the United States, corn is the major grain grown to feed livestock. It is a common ingredient in cereals, peanut butter, and various snack foods. Not only is corn a nourishing food, but it also cleans the air and protects water quality as it grows.

• Dent corn is the most commonly grown corn in the United States. It contains 85% starch and is used to feed livestock, and to make corn syrup, cornstarch, and the fuel ethanol
• Sweet corn is the most common eating corn. It has a high sugar content and is harvested when the plant is immature and the kernels are still soft. Both canned corn and corn on the cob are sweet corns
• Popcorn is a special kind of corn that contains moisture inside the kernel. When cooked at high heat, the kernel pops open
• Food-grade corn may be blue, white, or yellow in color. It is ground into meal and is used to make cornbread, tortillas, and chips