Description
Khoai is a traditional root‑cellar system used in Vietnam and neighboring regions to store harvested rice in earthen pits lined with straw and bamboo, maintaining a stable temperature of 12–18 °C and relative humidity of 70–80 % to keep water activity below 0.65.
Technical
The starch matrix in rice binds water, lowering the water activity and thereby suppressing microbial growth and enzymatic degradation. Controlled humidity and temperature also reduce oxidative rancidity, preserving the grain’s quality over long periods.
Science
Primary Reaction
Reduction of water activity through starch‑water binding and controlled humidity, inhibiting microbial growth and enzymatic degradation
Sensory Profile
Aroma ()
earthydrymildsubtleneutral
Origin & History
Civilization
Vietnamese and Laotian
Era