From early July 2021, Alchemy Fibre For Rice will be available in the aisles of more than 200 major supermarket stores, including FairPrice, Sheng Siong, Cold Storage, Giant and Prime, as well as onto leading online grocery platforms, Redmart, Amazon, etc., so that more home cooks can conveniently get their hands on it.
Most Singaporeans can hardly go without white rice. There is a comforting feeling about having a steaming bowl of rice, accompanied by your favourite dishes, which is something that healthier alternatives cannot always replicate. While white rice is a staple at most dinner tables, it is recognised to have a high glycemic index (GI).
Image source: Alchemy Fibre
To address this health concern, local start-up, Alchemy Foodtech, worked on research and development for more than four years, validating their food ingredient innovation before soft launching their flagship product, Alchemy Fibre For Rice, on their website last year.
It was also during this time that the company started collaborating with many prominent F&B partners like Boon Tong Kee, Yu Kee and Lim Kee.
“These collaborations to offer healthier dining options at F&B establishments have been met with positive feedback from the market. With the trend of more home cooking as a result of the current Covid-pandemic, this is clear indication to the company that providing this product for widespread home use is important, in order to increase the health impact with the product,” added Mr. Alan Phua, CEO and co-founder of Alchemy Foodtech.
Alchemy Foodtech has secured Tong Seng Produce, who also owns and distributes Song He rice, to be its retail distributor for Alchemy Fibre For Rice.
Alchemy Foodtech has secured Tong Seng Produce, who also owns and distributes Song He rice, to be its retail distributor for Alchemy Fibre For Rice.
A healthier bowl of white rice
Image source: Alchemy Fibre
This fibre blend offers consumers a healthier bowl of white rice without changing the taste, texture, or appearance of white rice. This versatility makes the product especially relevant in a food-obsessed nation like Singapore, where many frequently prioritise foods’ tastes and textures over their health benefits.
“I have tried for years to get my family to accept brown rice as I know it is better for our health but the nutty taste and texture of brown rice just doesn’t go with the preferences of everyone at home. It is good to have a versatile fibre ingredient that I can add to white rice to make it healthier,” said Ms Lee Siok Fen, 48-year-old home maker.
Lowers the glycemic index of white rice
Alchemy Fibre For Rice is a natural soluble fibre powder that dissolves to form a protective layer around the rice endosperm.
In the gut, it slows down the digestion rate of white rice, eliciting slower glucose release, i.e., a lower glycemic index.
Human studies have shown that white jasmine rice with 10% Alchemy Fibre has a medium GI, similar to the GI of brown rice. In the gut, it slows down the digestion rate of white rice which translates to a slower glucose release, i.e., a lower glycemic index.
Human studies have shown that white jasmine rice with 10% Alchemy Fibre has a medium GI, similar to the GI of brown rice.
“We often see how frequent consumption of high GI foods, especially in large portions, can cause repeated spikes in blood sugar levels. Numerous studies have shown an association between higher dietary GI and increased risk of type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease. The goal is to help people adopt sustainable and healthier eating habits. Lower GI foods can help blunt post-meal sugar spikes and improve health, when coupled with other practices such as paying attention to portion sizes as part of a balanced diet,” shared Dr Sue Anne Toh, CEO and Senior Consultant Endocrinologist, NOVI Health.
White rice cooked with Alchemy Fibre For Rice also contains up to 10 times more fibre for a healthier gut. Better yet, the rice retains its taste and fluffy texture that most of us are familiar with.
Alchemy Fibre has also been tested with other types of rice, like short-grain Japanese rice, to yield similar health benefits.
Alchemy Fibre is a blend made of low GI, high fibre and high prebiotics plant-based fibres.
Image source: Alchemy Fibre
Cooking Instructions
- Wash – Wash and drain the rice. Add water as per usual cooking procedure
- Add in – For every one cup of rice (150g), add 1 heaped tablespoon (15g) of Alchemy Fibre For Rice. Stir well to dissolve the powder.
- Cook – Cook the rice as per normal.
- Enjoy – Fluff the cooked rice and enjoy!
A video on how to cook with Alchemy Fibre For Rice can be found here.
Find out more
Alchemy Fibre for Rice retails at $10.60 for 250g or $22.80 for 700g. They are available at both retailers and online grocers such as FairPrice, Sheng Siong, Prime Supermarket, Giant Tampines Hypermart, Cold Storage, Redmart, Shopee Supermarket, Qoolife, Panda Mart, Fairprice Online, and Amazon.
Alternatively, the product is also available at Alchemy Foodtech’s e-shop.