More than 5,000 rice products from Japan and around the world competed in the annual International Contest on Rice Taste Evaluation in Kisarazu, Chiba Prefecture, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1. The 87-year-old Taiwanese farmer, who has grown rice for nearly six decades, won the award with his organic rice grown in Taitung’s Chihshang Township (池上). Hsieh added that for him, the knowledge needed to produce quality rice is more profound than that of calligraphy. In the contest with Japanese products, Hsieh’s rice received the second-largest number of votes and won a gold prize, he said. As Japan highly values rice quality and flavor, Hsieh’s rice could be said to be among the world’s best, Hu said.

Source: Taipei Times December 24, 2019 15:56 UTC