India’s most preferred rice
RICE is the most widely consumed grain in the world. It is also the foundation for glorious cuisine from around the world, and is that one staple diet so many cultures share.
Punjas have a long history of procuring, milling and supplying high quality rice throughout the Pacific. Our rice varieties include long grain, jasmine, parboiled, calrose and basmati.
Rice is processed and packed in our ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 22000:2005 certified mill where state-of-the-art automated lines facilitate the entire cleaning, milling and packing stages. High quality rice is sourced and stored in silos under strict hygienic conditions. Our process involves destoning, colour sorting to remove brown rice and husks, wet polishing; grading according to percentages of broken rice and packing.
We have wet-polishing facility which guarantees our rice is cleaner than other readily-available rice in the market. Our rice is also packed in convenient ready-to-cook packages as our process removes impurities thoroughly; therefore, removing the need for washing rice, saving time and water in most Pacific households. Rice is also a carbohydrate food that cooks fast, meaning it contributes to the saving of fuel and therefore saving our planet.
We stand by our continued hallmark of quality expressed in our intuition for consumer need, perseverance in sourcing to match varied preferences and in our meticulous attention to processing detail rendering our rice the best in the Pacific.
Punjas also imports and distributes basmati rice from KRBL Ltd producers of "India Gate" brand.
With a 120-year heritage and an existence since 1889, KRBL Ltd is India's first integrated rice company with a comprehensive product chain. At KRBL has spent three generations perfecting the basmati grain. KBRL relationship with basmati farmers go back in time — across generations actually. Farmers’ awareness of traditional knowledge and skills, experience in modern-day crop management practices, commitment to excellence and access to top grade inputs determine the quality of harvest
Basmati enjoys the GI (Geographical Indication) product status, same as of Champagne of France.
On planet earth, it can be grown only in India and Pakistan. In India too, only seven states located in the northern part of India comprising Punjab, Haryana, UP, Himachal, Uttaranchal, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir can
grow basmati.
Not all rice varieties can be called basmati. Varieties that exhibit certain quality attributes certified by the Govt of India grown in the specified states can only be called Basmati.
Basmati is a long grain variety that's most peculiar quality is aroma and taste apart from length. Basmati is like wine. It improves with ageing so in a natural and scientific manner it is carefully aged.
Basmati is a low GI (Glycemic Index) product compared to other rice making it great for consumption for people who monitor foods "that release glucose slowly" in body.
Basmati is a gluten-free product making it ideal for health-conscious people who are on gluten-free diets. Basmati is also sugar free, salt-free and fat#-free product. Brown basmati, which is now available in few selected supermarkets, is rich with fibre and surface contains rice bran oil which is great for health.
KRBL today stands at the top slot of the Indian rice industry, unmatched and unparalleled in every aspect. They are equally committed to enhancing our capacities and introducing the latest milling techniques to the basmati industry. The result has been equally rewarding-having the largest installed capacity in the industry with quality certifications to ensure satisfaction to both
the buyers and the eventual consumers.
KBRL lays the utmost stress on procurement and consider it the first, most critical step in ensuring quality. A strong relationship with the farmers through Contact Farming differentiates KBRL from its competitors.
The agri-service division works closely with the farmers during each life cycle of the crop, from sowing and re-plantation to harvesting and threshing, thereby ensuring procurement according to the desired standard.
Because paddy quality varies from district to district, and from year to year, they closely monitor the harvest at the start of the season. So, just when the season's first paddy starts arriving in the markets, KBRL team of rice experts identify and source the season's best paddy.
A more thorough examination of the paddy is undertaken once it arrives at the plant. There, experienced professionals deploy a slew of sophisticated testing equipment to check samples for moisture content, head rice yield, percentage of broken, admixture, length and width of grain. Only paddy that fully conforms to quality benchmarks is purchased and sent for storage and processing.
At KRBL, chemistry, quality parameters and ageing of basmati rice is studied in great detail.
The R&D cell brings together a team of
experienced rice professionals including farmers who are making efforts to blend a wealth of traditional knowledge with modern know-how and technology to improve pre and post harvesting techniques. The objective is to boost quality, improve head rice yields and lower costs. The research efforts have a direct bearing on company's success in developing new seed varieties and ability to source and adapt the world's frontline rice making technologies to conditions prevailing in India.
KBRL were among the first in the industry to form an association with Pusa Institute, for developing better varieties of basmati. The close association with research institutions assisted KBRL in launching the newly developed basmati varieties. KBRL has also collaborated with Buhler, the world's leading rice manufacturers for process and machine improvement.
Today, its flagship brand India Gate is recognised both in India and abroad with strong presence and impressive market share. It has earned respect and patronage among consumers and retailers over the years and today it's a matter of pride to be the preferred brand amongst Fiji households too.