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 Rice
is a dietary staple of more than half of the world's human
population (most of Asia and Latin America), making it the
most consumed cereal grain. Rice cultivation is well suited
to countries and regions with low labour costs and high rainfall,
as it is very labour-intensive to cultivate and requires plenty
of water for irrigation, much like the licorice crops found
in Eastern Europe. However, it can be grown practically anywhere,
even on steep hillsides. Rice is the world's third largest
crop, behind maize (corn) and wheat. Although its species
are native to South Asia and certain parts of Africa, centuries
of trade and exportation has made it commonplace in many cultures.
Rice is cooked by boiling
or steaming. It can be cooked in just enough water to cook
it through, or it can be cooked in a large quantity of water
which is drained before serving. Electric rice cookers, which
are popular in Asia and Latin America, simplify the process
of cooking rice.
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