Staggering price of 'world's most expensive rice' and why it always sells out

In 2016, Guinness World Records hailed a bag of rice as the most expensive on the planet - but it turns out there’s a really good reason behind its jaw-dropping price tag.

According to Japanese chef Kenichi Fujimoto, the most important part of sushi’s anatomy is the rice it's made with.

“Rice is Japan’s soul food,” he told CNN Travel earlier this month. “For sushi, rice is the most important part — 80% of good sushi comes from the rice and 20% from the fish.”

And while there are 300 varieties commonly cultivated around Japan, there is one type of rice that’s apparently head-and-shoulders above the rest.

Keiji Saika, the 91-year-old president of Toyo Rice Corporation, decided almost a decade ago that he needed a product that would appeal to the international community about ‘how great Japanese rice is’.

The world's most expensive rice is made in such small batches, that it is extremely difficult to get your hands on a bag (Getty Stock Image)

The result was Kinmemai, a gourmet specialty item which is said to have unparalleled nutritional value.

Not only does it comprise six times more lipopolysaccharides (LPS) than your regular rice - a compound known to boost immunity and help your body to fight illnesses - but it is pre-washed in an advanced milling process that removes starch as well as bran.

Unlike competitors, Kinmemai does not require washing before cooking, making it easier than most to whip up a bowl of.

According to NDTV, the grains used to produce this rice variety include Pikamaru and Koshihikari, some of the best in the world.

So, for quality like this, you’re expecting a pretty hefty price tag, right? Well, you’re not wrong.

Kinmemai Premium (kinmemai/Getty Images)

Because the Toyo Rice Corporation - founded back in 1961 - employs an excellent grain polishing technique, among other elevated practices, it’s more expensive than the usual bags you’ll find at your local store.

Saika’s company initially began selling Kinmemai Premium in an 840-gram box for 9,496 Japanese Yen (£47.13).

Its current price for 6 sachets, each weighing 140g, is listed at 155 Singaporean dollars, or £90.46, as per the official ‘World’s Best Rice’ website.

Unfortunately, the product is extremely difficult to get a hold of. This is because of its extremely limited annual production and high demand as a luxury and unique product.

Despite its price, the businessman admitted that it was never his dream for Toyo Rice to turn a profit.

“Honestly, when you calculate the costs, we’re probably running at a loss. Even though we sell it at a high price, it’s not profitable,” he explained to CNN.

Instead, he uses the seasonally-released pantry item to raise the profile of Japanese rice and encourage other rice farmers to cultivate higher-quality strains.

Other bags of rice from the Japanese company are available to purchase more regularly (Toyo Rice Corporation)

“At this age, I care about the development of myself and the company, but my biggest concern is Japan’s future,” the mogul.

“I don’t know how many more years I’ll live, but during that time, I want to develop things that will be useful to society. I don’t have much time, so I’m busy every day.”

If the Kinmemai Premium rice is a little too expensive, then you can support Toyo Rice by purchasing bags of its Rise Free Rice from the Japan Centre in the UK for £17.99

Microwavable Milled Hull Brown Rice (£8.55) and Rice Flour Pancake Mix (£4.79) are also available to buy now.