Basmati rice means the "queen of fragrance or the perfumed one." This type of rice has been grown in the foothills of the Himalayas for thousands of years. Its perfumy, nut-like flavor and aroma can be attributed to the fact that the grain is aged to decrease its moisture content. Basmati, long-grained rice with a fine texture is the costliest rice in the world and has been favored by emperors and praised by poets for hundreds of years.