Germinated brown rice

Germinated brown rice (GBR; Korean: 발아현미(發芽玄米), romanized: bara-hyeonmi, Japanese: 発芽玄米(はつがげんまい), romanized: hatsuga-genmai) is unpolished brown rice that has been allowed to germinate to improve the flavor and texture, and to increase levels of nutrients such as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). It has been found that germinated grains in general have nutritional advantages. The rice is used in Japanese and Korean cuisine.^[1]

Cooked germinated brown rice is softer and less chewy than plain brown rice—it is more acceptable to children in particular—and has additional nutritional advantages^[vague].

Germinated brown rice is produced by soaking for 4–20 hours in warm 30–40 °C (86–104 °F) water (or longer at lower temperature), changing water a few times if some smell develops, and rinsing before cooking. This stimulates germination, which activates various enzymes in the rice. By this method, it is possible to obtain a more complete amino acid profile, including GABA.^[2]

Although GBR is readily prepared at home, in Japan from 1995 it is sold ready-germinated at a higher price than ordinary rice. In 2004 about 15,000 tonnes were sold, to a value of about ¥15b.^{[citation needed]}