What is Sushi Rice?
Sushi rice is made using short-grain rice. Generally white rice is used, and sometimes brown rice is used. The rice is cooked and then mixed with rice vinegar, sugar and oil. It is fanned to cool it and then used in the making of sushi and similar food items. The rice will either be white or tan, depending on the type used. The texture is sticky, but each rice grain remains individual while clumping together. The flavor is mild and gently sweet and with a subtle hint of tanginess.
What does Sushi Rice Taste Like?
...Sweet is one of the five main tastes. It has smooth and round notes in its flavor profile. Sweet is a naturally occurring flavor in many foods, including fruits, berries, winter squashes, sugarcane, and honey. The sweet taste in these foods is due to a higher sugar content. Sweetness is characteristic of desserts and is used as an accent in savory foods.
Ingredients
...Rice is a grain that is used across the world. It is roughly 5mm in length and white. Some varieties of rice are thin, while others are more rounded and fat. Rice is a starch and when uncooked it is dry and hard. Many of these tiny grains are needed to make one serving size. White rice has the hull, bran and cereal germ removed. When cooked, rice becomes soft while still holding its form. The flavor of rice is mild, and bland. It goes well as a side dish to spicier items and is incredibly versatile as an appetizer, main course and even dessert.
...Water is a substance and chemical compound made up of hydrogen and oxygen. It is clear, fluid, flavorless and odorless. Water is a necessity in nearly every aspect of life, including cooking, baking and hydrating the human body. Water can be served as a cold beverage, or at any temperature comfortable to the mouth and skin.
...Rice vinegar is sometimes confused with rice wine vinegar and while both are made from fermented rice, each is different. Rice vinegar is made by fermenting the sugars in rice and then turning it into an acid. Rice vinegar is more delicate than other vinegars, such as white or red. The flavor of this pale yellow liquid is tangy, sweet and mild. It is used as a seasonings in some East Asian cuisines.
...Sugar comes from sugar cane and sugar beets. The sugar is extracted from the juice of both plants and refined into the granulated substance known as sugar. Sucrose, the sweet substance of sugar is a combination of glucose and fructose. White sugar is composed of tiny white, dry granules. The flavor is sweet and neutral. Brown sugar is brown and has more moisture, with a richer flavor that hints at molasses. Sugar is used in both sweet and savory foods.
...Salt is a mineral composed mostly of sodium chloride. It is the main flavoring used in food and is naturally occurring in certain foods, such as cheese, beets, meat and celery, plus many others. Salt is white and has finer granules than sugar. Many commercial salts include iodide, while others exclude it. Most salts are white, while some are naturally pale pink with minerals. Salt brings out the flavor of something and can create a tangy mouthfeel, if used in excess.