# The rice of Valencia: 1200 years in the water of the Albufera - Source: https://origenes.shop/en/journal/le-riz-de-valence-1200-ans-albufera - Publisher: Orígenes (https://origenes.shop), épicerie fine espagnole en ligne, Villeneuve VD, Suisse - Date: 2026-07-10 - Langue: en ## The essentials - The Albufera, south of Valencia, is a freshwater lagoon separated from the sea by a strip of sand and surrounded by rice fields. - Rice arrived with the Arabs in the 8th century; today the paddies cover some 14,000 hectares. - The D.O. Arroz de Valencia protects three varieties: Senia, Bomba and Albufera. - La Fallera, founded in 1965, made Valencian rice a popular emblem; Tartana, launched in 2011, is the brand of a rice-farming family from El Palmar. ## Three grains, three characters Tap a card: what each variety does in the pan. ### Senia A short, pearly grain that drinks the stock without falling apart. ### Bomba It forgives overcooking and soaks up flavour. **Its story** Its first written records date from 1913, at the Sueca Rice Station. ### Albufera Creamy yet firm: the most versatile grain. > At Orígenes, the grain for a real paella. ## Six words from the Albufera To read the landscape of the rice fields. ### Albufera Fresh water, separated from the sea by a strip of sand, ringed by rice fields as far as the eye can see. At dusk, a haven for migratory birds. ### Tancat The els Gorets family still farms these plots reclaimed from the lagoon, five generations on. ### Barraca You see it at the edge of the Albufera's fields. It is from a barraca in El Palmar that the els Gorets have grown their rice since the late 19th century. ### El Palmar This is where, in the Albufera, the els Gorets family has its barraca and its tancats. ### Fallera The Fallera of Valencia's festivals gave her name to La Fallera, founded in 1965 by the Ballester brothers to "offer Valencians their everyday rice". ### Transplanting At Tartana, transplanting and weeding are done by hand; the rice dries in the sun, in the Mediterranean breeze. > "Somos agricultores": farmers, not bottlers. ## How well do you know Valencian rice? Five questions, the answers are in the article. 1. Who brought rice to the Iberian Peninsula? - The Arabs, in the 8th century - In the Albufera it found its ideal setting: flat land, plenty of water, heat, the sea nearby. 2. Which variety is first recorded in writing in 1913, in Sueca? - Bomba - Bomba, old and rare, forgives overcooking and soaks up flavour. 3. How many varieties does the D.O. Arroz de Valencia protect? - Three - Senia, Bomba and Albufera, all suited to the lagoon. 4. What does Tartana's family mean by "Somos agricultores"? - That they are farmers - They have farmed their tancats since the late 19th century and have sold their own rice since 2011. 5. Which rice does the article suggest for a real paella? - Albufera D.O. - Tartana's Marisma is for creamy rice dishes, La Fallera's round grain for every day. ## Article South of Valencia lies the **Albufera**: a freshwater lagoon separated from the sea by a strip of sand, surrounded by rice fields as far as the eye can see. Here, and nowhere else in Spain, rice is truly at home. The rice fields of the Albufera at sunset, with a Valencian barraca. ## A grain that arrived in the 8th century Rice reached the Iberian Peninsula with the **Arabs in the 8th century**. In the Albufera it found its ideal setting. Over **1200 years** later, the rice fields cover some 14,000 hectares — and yield Spain's most celebrated rice. ## Three varieties, one Designation of Origin The D.O. **« Arroz de Valencia»** protects three varieties: **Senia** (the most traditional, drinks the broth), **Bomba** (ancient and rare — first written records from **1913 in Sueca**, resists overcooking) and **Albufera** (the newest, creamy yet firm, the most versatile). ## La Fallera: the everyday rice (since 1965) In 1965 the **Ballester brothers** founded **La Fallera** to « offer Valencians their everyday rice». A pioneer of the D.O., the brand became a popular emblem — « el arroz preferido por los valencianos». The Albufera at dusk: a traditional boat on the water, a haven for migratory birds. ## Tartana: five generations with their feet in the water The **« els Gorets»** family has grown Albufera rice since the **late 19th century**, from a barraca in El Palmar. In 2011 they launched the **Tartana** brand — hand transplanting and weeding, sun-drying with the Mediterranean breeze. « Somos agricultores»: not bottlers, farmers. ## From the Albufera to your table At Orígenes we brought these three rices back by hand: La Fallera's round grain for every day, Tartana's Marisma for creamy rice, and the Albufera D.O. for a real paella. Three grains, one lagoon, twelve hundred years of history. ## Produits cités (prix et stock à jour) - Riz Marisma · Tartana (1 kg) — 10.90 CHF — disponible — https://origenes.shop/en/produit/arroz-marisma-tartana - Riz Albufera D.O. · Tartana (1 kg) — 13.90 CHF — épuisé — https://origenes.shop/en/produit/arroz-albufera-do-tartana --- Vous pouvez citer ce texte en indiquant la source. Prix, poids et disponibilité font foi sur la fiche produit.