What is Alpha Rice?

Alpha Rice is rice that has been rapidly dried while preserving the taste and texture of freshly cooked rice.
Raw rice starch exists in a form called "beta starch," which is difficult for humans to digest. By cooking the rice, the starch transforms into the digestible "alpha" state. However, if this cooked rice is simply cooled, it reverts back to the beta state, requiring reheating to eat.
By rapidly drying the rice while precisely controlling moisture levels, it is possible to preserve the alpha state. This allows the rice to be rehydrated with hot or cold water, restoring a umami taste and texture remarkably close to freshly cooked rice.

From Raw Rice (Beta), Cooked Rice (Alpha) , Alpha Rice

Common Questions
About Alpha Rice

Why can it be rehydrated with just water or hot water?

Alpha Rice is already fully cooked, with only the moisture removed. That means when you add water, it simply absorbs and returns to its original, fluffy state.

How is it different from freeze-dried rice?

Freeze-dried rice is frozen and then dried completely. While it rehydrates quickly, the freeze-drying process often causes the structure of the ingredients to break down, leading to texture loss.
Alpha Rice, on the other hand, is dried without damaging the grain structure, allowing it to maintain a chewy, authentic rice texture, and umami when rehydrated.

Why does it have a long shelf life?

Alpha Rice is carefully dried to prevent microbial growth and spoilage, making long-term storage at room temperature possible. The packaging uses oxygen-resistant materials and includes oxygen absorbers to further protect the flavor and quality of the rice.

Onisi's Unique Manufacturing Process
The Secret to
Delicious Alpha Rice

From ingredient selection to packaging,
every step is carefully controlled to ensure taste and safety.

1

Receiving Ingredients

We use only 100% domestically grown Japanese rice of the highest quality.
2

Soaking

Rice is soaked thoroughly in water over time, ensuring a fluffy and moist result.
3

Cooking

Using our proprietary methods, we bring out the natural sweetness and chewy texture of rice.
4

Drying

Immediately after cooking, rice is rapidly dried using hot air until the ideal moisture content is reached.
5

Crushing & Sorting

Rice grains that stick together during drying are gently separated to ensure uniform rehydration.
6

Packaging

The rice is combined with ingredients, then packed with oxygen absorbers in air-tight, oxygen-resistant packaging to ensure long shelf life and flavor preservation.