தூயமல்லி

The name means pure jasmine, for the grain's whiteness rather than any scent. Thooyamalli is one of the few traditional Tamil varieties that is naturally white and fine-grained, which makes it the obvious heritage choice for households that don't want red or unpolished rice.

It cooks soft and separate, closer to a good Ponni than to the heritage reds, with a clean flavour that suits plain rice and curd rice particularly well. It's also well regarded for idli and dosa batter, where it ferments reliably.

Because it looks and behaves like ordinary white rice, it's a useful bridge - a household can move to a traditional variety without changing how they cook.