Flavourful, nutritious germinated brown rice

Hatsugamai

Brand: Fancl

Price: 2100 yen

Place of purchase: Belx Supermarket

Rating:

While the high prices of domestic white rice remain high, I've looked at different options. This month, I considered the nutritional value over price and bought Fancl's Hatsugamai. Hatsugamai produced by Fancl Corporation was on offer at my neighbourhood supermarket. The 750 gram zip-top bag contains hatsugamai, germinated brown rice. On opening it, I noticed the earthy, nutty fragrance. The package instructions suggest soaking it for 30 minutes before cooking. I cooked it in my small donabe and it turned out fluffy.

Fancl's Hatsugamai, germinated brown rice, is hearty, flavourful, and easy to eat. It's priced at 750 yen for a 2 kilogram bag, so it's a bit expensive. However, considering the price of rice in 2025, this is the going rate. The rice is firm and has a nutty and sweet flavour. It's heavier than white rice, but the quality is high. On top of that, it's filling and adds a lot of texture to Japanese dishes. The package directions assume you have a rice cooker. It worked out well in a donabe after a 30 minute soak.