Glutinous Rice

Glutinous rice — also known as sticky rice, sweet rice or waxy rice — is an essential ingredient across East and Southeast Asian cuisine, and one of the most versatile varieties you can keep in your kitchen. At Tuk Tuk Mart, we stock white and black glutinous rice from Pink Lotus, X.O and Sandee, with UK delivery by DHL.

The name refers to its sticky, glue-like texture when cooked — a result of its high amylopectin starch content — not to gluten. That stickiness suits dishes that need to hold their shape, from hand-formed dumplings to pressed rice cakes. Some products in this collection do contain wheat or barley, so check the pack if you avoid gluten.

Glutinous rice is the key ingredient in a wide range of beloved Asian dishes. In Thailand, it is steamed and served with mango and coconut cream as khao niao mamuang. In China, it is used to make zongzi — sticky rice parcels wrapped in bamboo leaves. In Japan and Korea, it forms the base of mochi and tteok (rice cakes). In the Philippines, it appears in kakanin, a family of traditional rice-based sweets.

The black variety, with its deep purple-black colour and nuttier flavour, is used in Southeast Asian desserts and congee-style dishes, often paired with coconut cream.

Browse our glutinous rice range at Tuk Tuk Mart. Orders go by DHL from our Manchester store, with free standard delivery over £75; fresh and frozen lines add a £5.50 surcharge once per order.

Read our guide: glutinous rice and glutinous rice flour, explained.