Issue 59

Thai rice products continue to make a substantial contribution to the national economy.

According to a recent report, processed Thai rice products exports made the top three for processed agricultural products, along with processed coconut and durian products.

Released in September 2016 by the Center for International Trade Studies, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the report found that exports of processed agricultural products in 2015 generated approximately US$11 billion (or 380 billion baht) with a steady upward trend.

Realising the market potential for processed rice, Siam Organic saw an opportunity to launch organic processed Jasberry rice products on both the domestic and international markets. Collaborating with small-scale farmers in the northeast of Thailand for over five years on organic rice products, Siam Organic has developed organic Jasberry rice, rice pasta, rice flour for bakery products and most recently Jasberry rice tea.

“We want to add more value to Jasberry rice,” says Pornthida Wongphatharakul, co-founder of Siam Organic. “Our processed rice products will provide new options for consuming rice in both the health and organic products market.”

Wongphatharakul believes that Siam Organic can build on Thailand’s strong reputation for quality rice to market Jasberry rice, especially due to its healthy attributes.

“Our tea is made with organic Jasberry rice, which is highly beneficial in lowering blood sugar and blood pressure, including weight control,” she says. “In addition, it also provides higher antioxidants than other strains of rice.”

Wongphatharakul adds that Siam Organic’s Jasberry rice tea is unique. “We combine Jasberry rice tea with Thai herbs such as butterfly pea, ginger and safflower,” she says. “Therefore, our rice tea is not only high in nutrition, but also has a pleasant aroma for consumers who have never consumed this kind of tea before.”

Now that the rice tea has received USDA Certification, the product is proving successful on international markets, and Wongphatharakul says that customer feedback has been great. However, the rice entrepreneur is still looking for fresh pastures to penetrate, as well as developing new products.

“Apart from exporting our rice tea to Hong Kong, we are looking for new markets in Europe,” she says.

For Wongphatharakul, an important part of the company’s mission is to support Thai farmers in Northeast region and to turn their attention towards organic rice production.

“We would like to push Thai organic rice into international markets and bring a better quality of life to Thai farmers,” she says.

For more information, please visit: www.facebook.com/siamorganic

Photo courtesy of Siam Organic Co. Ltd.

Words by Patcharee Taedangpetch