Rice is a part of many traditional cuisines.  It is used as a main dish as a side dish or as a decoration for food.  People knew about rice a long time ago.  It has been part of our meals for 5,000 years. The first information about rice was found in China about 2,800 BC. The rise has been a part of Chinese food tradition. Chinese legends provide information that rise is used so much in the Chinese cuisine thanks to the legendary Emperor of China Shennong who was also the inventor of Chinese agriculture. The rise was spread from East Asia to South Asia and after that in Europe. Also, it was introduced to Americans through the European colonization.