Is p'titim the same as couscous?

No. פתיתים are baked wheat-semolina pasta pieces, while קוסקוס consists of small durum-wheat semolina granules. Israeli couscous most precisely names the round form of פתיתים.

Is kusemet buckwheat or spelt?

כוסמת, pronounced kusemet, is buckwheat. כוסמין is spelt, which is wheat and contains gluten.

Is Israeli Persian rice from Iran?

The label אורז פרסי does not prove Iranian origin. The Hebrew name is an Israeli commercial category for long-grain white rice, and different packers can use the category differently.

Is grisha the same as bulgur?

Not always. גרישה can mean very fine precooked bulgur, while another pack can use ג׳רישה for finely cracked durum wheat that was not steam-treated. Read the process description.

Are rice, buckwheat and quinoa gluten-free in Israel?

Rice, buckwheat and quinoa are botanically gluten-free, but a particular pack can carry a wheat or barley cross-contact warning. Look for an explicit gluten-free claim when medically required.

Israeli Rice and Grains: Hebrew Names

Pasta and Wheat

A bowl of p'titim, Israeli couscous pearls

On the label or sign

פתיתים אפויים: baked p'titim
אורז: rice shape
קוסקוס: round p'titim shape

פתיתיםIsraeli couscous pasta

p'titim

US English

Israeli couscous, pearl couscous, or toasted pasta

UK English

Giant couscous or Israeli couscous

What it is

פתיתים are baked pasta pieces made from wheat semolina. Shapes include rice, rounds, rings, stars and letters.

The difference

Israeli couscous most precisely means the small round form. פתיתים are not rice and are not ordinary couscous.

Common mistake

Do not buy rice-shaped פתיתים as rice or ask for קוסקוס when a recipe needs pearl couscous.

On the label or sign

קוסקוס דק: fine couscous
קוסקוס בינוני: medium couscous
קוסקוס עבה: coarse couscous

קוסקוסCouscous

kuskus

US English

Couscous

UK English

Couscous

What it is

קוסקוס is made from small durum-wheat semolina granules. Israeli packs offer fine, medium, coarse and whole-wheat forms.

The difference

קוסקוס is a separate product from פתיתים. The English name Israeli couscous refers to round פתיתים, not ordinary קוסקוס.

Common mistake

Do not treat קוסקוס and round פתיתים as interchangeable Hebrew names.

On the label or sign

בורגול דק: fine bulgur
בורגול בינוני: medium bulgur
בורגול עבה: coarse bulgur

בורגול דק / בינוני / עבהBulgur wheat

burgul dak / beinoni / aveh

US English

Fine, medium or coarse bulgur wheat

UK English

Fine, medium or coarse bulgur wheat

What it is

בורגול is whole wheat that has been cooked, dried and cracked. Fine, medium and coarse grades change the texture and use, not the underlying grain.

The difference

Bulgur is not simply generic cracked wheat. English cracked wheat can mean a raw product that has not been cooked first.

Common mistake

Match דק, בינוני or עבה to the recipe instead of substituting one grade without changing the preparation.

On the label or sign

בורגול דק: fine bulgur
חיטה גרוסה: cracked wheat

גְּרִישָׁה / ג׳רישהFine bulgur or cracked wheat

grisha / jarisha

US English

Very fine bulgur or fine cracked wheat

UK English

Very fine bulgur or fine cracked wheat

What it is

גרישה is not a fully standardized label. A pack can contain very fine precooked bulgur or finely cracked durum wheat that was not steam-treated.

The difference

The name alone does not show whether the wheat was precooked. The process description decides whether a soaking recipe is suitable.

Common mistake

Read the process wording before treating גרישה, ג׳רישה and bulgur as identical.

On the label or sign

חיטה: wheat
חיטה קלופה: hulled wheat

חיטהWheat berries

chita

US English

Wheat berries or whole wheat kernels

UK English

Wheat berries or whole wheat kernels

What it is

חיטה means whole or hulled wheat kernels for cooking in stews, cholent, salads and soups.

The difference

חיטה is the grain itself. חיטה is not flour, bulgur or spelt.

Common mistake

Do not buy חיטה for a recipe that expects quick-cooking bulgur.

On the label or sign

פריקה: freekeh
חיטה ירוקה קלויה: roasted green wheat

פְרִיקֶה / פריקהFreekeh

frikeh / freekeh

US English

Freekeh or green wheat

UK English

Freekeh or green wheat

What it is

פריקה is wheat harvested while green, then roasted and rubbed. פריקה can be whole or cracked and has a smoky character.

The difference

Freekeh is a wheat product that contains gluten. Freekeh is not ordinary raw wheat berries.

Common mistake

Do not treat פריקה as a gluten-free ancient grain.

Barley and Oats

On the label or sign

גריסים: hulled barley or barley groats

גריסיםHulled barley

grisim

US English

Hulled barley or barley groats

UK English

Hulled barley or barley groats

What it is

גריסים are barley kernels with minimal processing. The kernels retain more outer layers than pearl barley.

The difference

גריסים are usually chewier and slower to cook than גריסי פנינה. גריסים contain barley gluten.

Common mistake

Do not call every barley kernel pearl barley or read גריסים as generic mixed groats.

On the label or sign

גריסי פנינה: pearl barley

גריסי פנינהPearl barley

grisei pnina

US English

Pearl barley

UK English

Pearl barley

What it is

גריסי פנינה are barley kernels polished after the outer hull is removed. Pearling makes the kernels softer and quicker to cook than גריסים.

The difference

Pearl does not mean rice. Pearling also means the barley is not necessarily a whole grain.

Common mistake

Do not use the whole-grain status or cooking time of גריסים for גריסי פנינה.

A bowl of oat groats, grisei shibolet shu'al

On the label or sign

גריסי שיבולת שועל: oat groats
קוואקר: rolled oats, not oat groats

גריסי שיבולת שועלOat groats

grisei shibolet shual

US English

Steel-cut oats or oat groats, depending on cut

UK English

Steel-cut oats or oat groats, depending on cut

What it is

גריסי שיבולת שועל are whole oat kernels cut coarsely. Israeli sellers distinguish the groats from thin or thick rolled oat flakes.

The difference

Oat groats are used for savory cooking and do not have the texture or cooking time of instant oatmeal.

Common mistake

Do not buy ordinary קוואקר or rolled oats when a recipe calls for גריסי שיבולת שועל.

Pseudocereals and Other Grains

On the label or sign

כוסמת קלויה: roasted buckwheat
כוסמת חומה: brown buckwheat

כֻּסֶּמֶת קלויה / חומהRoasted buckwheat

kusemet kluya / chuma

US English

Roasted buckwheat groats or kasha

UK English

Roasted buckwheat groats or kasha

What it is

כוסמת is buckwheat, a pseudocereal rather than wheat. The brown roasted form has a stronger, nuttier kasha flavor.

The difference

Roasted buckwheat is different from pale unroasted buckwheat. כוסמת is also different from כוסמין, which is spelt.

Common mistake

Do not buy כוסמין or expect pale raw buckwheat when the recipe calls for roasted כוסמת.

On the label or sign

כוסמת ללא קליה: unroasted buckwheat
כוסמת ירוקה: green buckwheat

כוסמת ללא קליה / כוסמת ירוקהRaw green buckwheat

kusemet lelo kliya / kusemet yeruka

US English

Raw or green buckwheat groats

UK English

Raw or green buckwheat groats

What it is

כוסמת ירוקה is the same buckwheat seed without roasting. The kernels are pale green or beige, with a milder and softer result than roasted buckwheat.

The difference

Green means unroasted in this shelf name. Green buckwheat is not an immature vegetable.

Common mistake

Do not assume green and roasted buckwheat cook or taste the same.

On the label or sign

קינואה לבנה: white quinoa
קינואה אדומה: red quinoa
קינואה מיקס: mixed quinoa

קינואה לבנה / קינואה אדומה / קינואה שחורה / קינואה מיקסQuinoa

kinua levana / aduma / shchora / mix

US English

White, red, black or mixed quinoa

UK English

White, red, black or mixed quinoa

What it is

קינואה is a pseudocereal. White, red and black are color forms, while mixed packs combine colors.

The difference

A קינואה מיקס pack does not necessarily contain all three colors. The ingredient panel gives the exact blend.

Common mistake

Do not assume quinoa is a legume or that every mix contains white, red and black quinoa.

On the label or sign

דוחן: millet

דוחןMillet

dochan

US English

Millet, usually hulled millet

UK English

Millet, usually hulled millet

What it is

דוחן is a cereal grain with small yellow grains. Israeli listings offer דוחן for porridge, pilaf and side dishes.

The difference

דוחן is not sorghum and is not merely a generic name for birdseed. דוחן is more common in Eastern European and health-food ranges than in mainstream grain lines.

Common mistake

Do not dismiss דוחן as bird feed or confuse millet with sorghum.

On the label or sign

אמרנט: amaranth

אמרנטAmaranth grain

amarant

US English

Amaranth grain

UK English

Amaranth grain

What it is

אמרנט consists of tiny pseudocereal seeds. The seeds cook to a sticky or porridge-like texture.

The difference

Amaranth is not quinoa, even though both appear in grain-style dishes. אמרנט is a specialty item rather than a mainstream supermarket grain.

Common mistake

Do not expect cooked אמרנט to stay in separate, rice-like grains.

On the label or sign

פופקורן: popcorn
תירס לפופקורן: corn for popcorn

פופקורןPopcorn kernels

popcorn

US English

Popcorn kernels

UK English

Popcorn kernels

What it is

פופקורן is a maize type whose kernels expand when heated. Israeli grain ranges classify the dry kernels with grains.

The difference

Popcorn is a popping grain rather than a rice-style side dish. Ordinary dried corn and corn grits do not serve the same purpose.

Common mistake

Buy פופקורן or תירס לפופקורן rather than ordinary dried corn when the kernels need to pop.

Rice

On the label or sign

אורז פרסי: Israeli Persian rice category
אורז לבן ארוך: long white rice

אורז פרסיPersian rice label

orez parsi

US English

Long-grain white rice

UK English

Long-grain white rice

What it is

אורז פרסי is an Israeli commercial category of long white rice intended to cook as separate grains.

The difference

The name does not prove Iranian origin, a Persian cooking method or one fixed cultivar. Different packers can use the category differently.

Common mistake

Do not translate אורז פרסי literally as rice from Persia or assume every brand contains the same variety.

On the label or sign

בסמטי: basmati
לבן: white
מלא: whole-grain or brown

אורז בסמטיBasmati rice

orez basmati

US English

White basmati rice

UK English

White basmati rice

What it is

אורז בסמטי is long, aromatic white rice associated with Indian-style dishes. The cooked grains are fluffy and separate.

The difference

Basmati is a named rice type. אורז פרסי is a broader Israeli commercial category.

Common mistake

Do not treat basmati, Persian rice and jasmine rice as identical because each can have long grains and aroma.

On the label or sign

יסמין: jasmine

אורז יסמיןJasmine rice

orez yasmin

US English

Jasmine rice

UK English

Jasmine rice

What it is

אורז יסמין is aromatic long-grain rice associated with Thai and Vietnamese cooking.

The difference

Jasmine rice is generally a little more cohesive after cooking than basmati. A pack marked only תאילנדי does not necessarily establish jasmine or Hom Mali rice.

Common mistake

Look for יסמין when jasmine rice matters instead of relying only on a Thai label.

On the label or sign

תאילנדי: Thai
יסמין: jasmine

אורז תאילנדיThai long-grain rice

orez tailandi

US English

Thai long-grain rice; variety depends on the pack

UK English

Thai long-grain rice; variety depends on the pack

What it is

אורז תאילנדי is a country or style label for long rice. One current product description calls the rice mildly aromatic.

The difference

The תאילנדי label alone does not establish jasmine rice or a particular cultivar. The ingredient, origin and variety wording provide the useful detail.

Common mistake

Do not automatically translate אורז תאילנדי as jasmine rice.

On the label or sign

אורז עגול: round rice

אורז עגולRound rice

orez agol

US English

Short-grain or round rice

UK English

Pudding or short-grain rice, depending on use

What it is

אורז עגול is short, round white rice that releases more starch. The rice suits stuffed dishes, desserts and some creamy preparations.

The difference

A generic round-rice pack does not automatically contain a named Arborio or sushi cultivar.

Common mistake

Do not assume all אורז עגול is interchangeable with purpose-labelled sushi rice or Arborio risotto rice.

On the label or sign

אורז לסושי: rice for sushi
אורז להכנת סושי: rice for making sushi

אורז לסושיSushi rice

orez le-sushi

US English

Sushi rice or Japanese-style short-grain rice

UK English

Sushi rice or Japanese-style short-grain rice

What it is

אורז לסושי is selected and labelled to produce the cohesive texture needed for sushi. A purpose label does not necessarily name the cultivar.

The difference

Sushi rice is not simply any round rice. The sticky texture of sushi rice also does not make the product glutinous rice used in Southeast Asian sweets.

Common mistake

Buy a pack marked אורז לסושי or אורז להכנת סושי when the cohesive sushi texture matters.

On the label or sign

אורז ריזוטו: risotto rice
ארבוריו: Arborio
קרנרולי: Carnaroli

אורז ריזוטו / ארבוריו / קרנרוליRisotto rice

orez risotto / arborio / carnaroli

US English

Risotto rice; Arborio or Carnaroli when stated

UK English

Risotto rice; Arborio or Carnaroli when stated

What it is

אורז ריזוטו is high-starch rice intended to release starch while retaining a firm center during risotto cooking.

The difference

ריזוטו is a use label. Call the rice Arborio or Carnaroli only when the pack states ארבוריו or קרנרולי.

Common mistake

Do not assume every אורז עגול or every pack marked ריזוטו is the same named Italian variety.

On the label or sign

מלא ארוך: long-grain brown rice
בסגנון פרסי: Persian style

אורז מלא ארוךLong-grain brown rice

orez maleh aroch

US English

Long-grain brown rice

UK English

Long-grain brown rice

What it is

אורז מלא ארוך is long-grain rice with the bran and germ retained. The brown bran layer is visible.

The difference

מלא means whole or brown in this rice label, not filled. Brown long-grain rice needs different water and cooking time from white long-grain rice.

Common mistake

Follow the pack instructions instead of cooking אורז מלא ארוך like white rice.

On the label or sign

בסמטי מלא: brown basmati

אורז בסמטי מלאBrown basmati rice

orez basmati maleh

US English

Brown basmati rice

UK English

Brown basmati rice

What it is

אורז בסמטי מלא is the whole-grain form of basmati. The rice combines basmati aroma and shape with retained bran.

The difference

Brown basmati is not white basmati and is not the same product as generic long brown rice.

Common mistake

Do not use the cooking time and water ratio for white basmati when preparing אורז בסמטי מלא.

On the label or sign

אורז אדום: red rice

אורז אדוםRed rice

orez adom

US English

Red rice

UK English

Red rice

What it is

אורז אדום is whole-grain rice with a naturally red bran layer. The cooked result is firmer and nuttier than white rice.

The difference

Red rice is a grain with red bran. אורז אדום is not white rice colored with tomato, seasoning or spices.

Common mistake

Do not confuse אורז אדום with a seasoned red rice dish.

On the label or sign

אורז שחור: black rice

אורז שחורBlack rice

orez shachor

US English

Black rice, sometimes called forbidden rice

UK English

Black rice, sometimes called forbidden rice

What it is

אורז שחור is true rice with a dark pigmented bran layer.

The difference

Black rice is distinct from wild rice, even though some shops loosely group or mislabel the two.

Common mistake

Do not assume אורז שחור and אורז בר are the same product.

On the label or sign

אורז בר: wild rice
אורז פרא: wild rice

אורז בר / אורז פראWild rice

orez bar / orez pere

US English

Wild rice

UK English

Wild rice

What it is

אורז בר is the seed of Zizania, an aquatic grass. Wild rice has long, dark, narrow grains and can be sold alone or in blends.

The difference

Wild rice is not true Oryza rice and is not a black variety of ordinary rice.

Common mistake

Check the ingredient list instead of assuming a dark rice blend is 100 percent wild rice.

On the label or sign

מיקס: mix

אורז מיקסMixed rice blend

orez mix

US English

Mixed whole-rice blend

UK English

Mixed whole-rice blend

What it is

אורז מיקס is a blend rather than a rice variety. The colors and ingredients can differ by product.

The difference

Mix is not a standard recipe. The ingredient panel determines the rice types in a particular pack.

Common mistake

Do not assume every אורז מיקס contains the same rice types or cooks the same way.

Recipe says	Buy in Israel	Keep in mind
Pearl or Israeli couscous	פתיתיםp'titim	Choose the small round form, often marked קוסקוס.
Ordinary couscous	קוסקוסkuskus	Choose דק, בינוני or עבה for the needed grade.
Fine bulgur	בורגול דקburgul dak	Do not rely on גרישה without reading the process wording.
Roasted buckwheat or kasha	כוסמת קלויהkusemet kluya	Choose the brown roasted kernels.
Raw buckwheat	כוסמת ללא קליהkusemet lelo kliya	Choose the pale unroasted kernels.
Long-grain white rice	אורז פרסיorez parsi	Persian is an Israeli commercial category.
Jasmine rice	אורז יסמיןorez yasmin	A Thai label alone does not establish jasmine.
Sushi rice	אורז לסושיorez le-sushi	Choose the purpose-labelled cohesive rice.
Risotto rice	אורז ריזוטוorez risotto	Look for ארבוריו or קרנרולי when the variety matters.
Pearl barley	גריסי פנינהgrisei pnina	Do not substitute less processed גריסים without adjusting cooking.

Mix-Ups to Avoid

Pasta and Wheat

פתיתיםIsraeli couscous pasta

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

קוסקוסCouscous

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

בורגול דק / בינוני / עבהBulgur wheat

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

גְּרִישָׁה / ג׳רישהFine bulgur or cracked wheat

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

חיטהWheat berries

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

פְרִיקֶה / פריקהFreekeh

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Barley and Oats

גריסיםHulled barley

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

גריסי פנינהPearl barley

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

גריסי שיבולת שועלOat groats

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Pseudocereals and Other Grains

כֻּסֶּמֶת קלויה / חומהRoasted buckwheat

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

כוסמת ללא קליה / כוסמת ירוקהRaw green buckwheat

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

קינואה לבנה / קינואה אדומה / קינואה שחורה / קינואה מיקסQuinoa

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

דוחןMillet

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

אמרנטAmaranth grain

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

פופקורןPopcorn kernels

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Rice

אורז פרסיPersian rice label

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

אורז בסמטיBasmati rice

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

אורז יסמיןJasmine rice

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

אורז תאילנדיThai long-grain rice

What it is

The difference