All Basmati varieties being grown in Pakistan have long slender grains, pleasant aroma, linear elongation of twice of its grain size & soft dry fluffy texture upon cooking. In Pakistan Basmati Rice varieties are classified in accordance with Pakistan Standards for Rice PS 3342- 1993 (USD 633.18) into the following two main categories:-
EXTRA LONG GRAIN BASMATI VARIETIES
(Milled, Parboiled & Cargo)
These are the commercially top of the line superior most Basmati varieties having an Average Grain Length of 7.00 mm or more & include:-
Karnal Basmati
Super Basmati (also commonly known as Super Karnal Basmati)
Basmati - 2000 (recently developed by RRI, Kala Shah Kaku)
At present super Basmati Rice is the one, which is most commonly grown & avail-able in the market in large quantities. It has all the Basmati characteristics explained above & good cooking is achieved even in fresh crop. It has become very popular in the European Union as well as in the Middle East without any doubt. It is the leading Basmati variety of Pakistan today. LONG GRAIN BASMATI VARIETIES
(Milled, Parboiled & Cargo)
These are the commercially second best varieties after Extra Long Grain Varieties & have an Average Grain Length 6.7 mm or more & include:-
PK - 385 Basmati
PK - 370 Basmati
PK - 198 Basmati
At present PK-385 Rice is the most commonly grown variety of all the above three & possesses all the inherent characteristics of Basmati Rice mentioned above. With aging it attains the same linear elongation & aroma as Super & price wise is much cheaper than Super.
