Vietnam’s ST25 rice wins World’s Best Rice title for 3rd time

It shared the title with Cambodia’s phka romdoul at the 17th Annual World Rice Conference organized by U.S. publication The Rice Trader in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh from Nov. 7 to 9. The Cambodian variety has won the title seven times.

ST25 rice is the result of years of research, selection and breeding led by Ho Quang Cua, after whom it is named, and his team.

Ho Quang Cua (center, R), lead engineer behind the Ong Cua ST25 rice variety, receives a trophy for the World's Best Rice 2025 title in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo acquired by VnExpress

Since the 1990s the team has been developing new strains of the grain under the ST brand. ST25 was bred from several rice varieties, whose outstanding qualities it has inherited.

Its grains are long and translucent with no chalky core, it is moderately sticky when cooked, exudes pandan and young green rice fragrances and has a rich, sweet flavor.

Even when cooled ST25 retains its tenderness and distinctive aroma: qualities that have won over both domestic consumers and international culinary experts.

Cua said: "This title helps strengthen the ‘High-Quality Vietnamese Rice’ brand, expanding its reach into demanding markets such as the United States, Japan, Europe, and Australia."

The World’s Best Rice competition is an annual international event organized since 2009 to identify emerging trends and directions for the global rice market.

Vietnam won the top prize for the first time in 2019.