Lotao launch announcement general press

Exquisite rice specialties for connoisseurs’ palates – Lotao opens up new horizons for lovers of the small grain
Berlin in March 2011. The times when rice on the plate was reduced to a boring side dish are finally over. From now on, the Berlin company Lotao is enriching the delicatessen segment with selected rice specialties from various regions of Asia. With Lotao, company founder Stefan Fak not only wants to inspire the European palate with the diversity of the cultivated plant, but also transport and further develop hidden culinary secrets and stories about the small grain.

A small grain emancipates itself: exquisite treasures of Asia

For the product launch in German-speaking countries, Lotao initially selected six types of rice. Each of these varieties has its own story. For example, “Sparkling Volcano Terra”, the warrior's rice, whose strength comes from the volcanic soils of Java. Only a little more than 2,000 people in the Tasikmalaya region of West Java know his secret. “We focus on original Asian rice specialties that are either completely natural or refined with plant reductions,” explains Stefan Fak. For further refinement, Lotao has so-called perfectioners (finely balanced spice mixtures) and elixirs (enrichments with fruits and spice plants based on rice oil). ) developed. These are added to the rice after cooking and bring the respective variety to its fullest potential in terms of taste and consistency. The “Royal Pearl Black” variety, which was reserved for great Chinese dynasties - the rice of the powerful - is completed by the perfectioner “Aromaticum Herbal Spice”, a composition of dates, rose and poppy flowers, almonds, pink pepper and nutmeg and sea salt.
Lotao's rice range is offered in elegant, individually designed high-gloss packaging and is available in the first sales phase, among others, at Feinkost Käfer in Munich, at Galeries Lafayette and KaDeWe in Berlin, at OSCHÄTZCHEN in Hamburg and online at www.lotao.com available and deliverable within Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Brilliant, Asian-inspired and mysterious: The Lotao principle

Loosely translated, Lotao means “the gold of the people”. So that rice, which is literally worth gold in many regions of the world, can begin its triumph as a gourmet product in the European world, Lotao founder Stefan Fak has dedicated himself to the life-giving cultivated plant "Lotao brings together all the knowledge that I have collected in Asia together with many specialists on the subject of rice," says Stefan Fak, who describes himself as Germany's first "Riisolier" due to his expertise. Of the approximately 120,000 varieties of rice that exist worldwide, only a few thousand are cultivated and only a few of them are known in Europe. “It is surprising how little we know here about how to prepare and use rice and how much we underestimate this food,” says Risolier. “Lotao would like to revive forgotten, “old” rice varieties and, via the website (www.lotao.com), convey stories, secrets, myths and its own attitude to life, which has its origins in the search for the secrets of the Asian rice art.” The expert blog “Der Risolier” is also a forum for the exchange of topics relating to Wunderkorn (www.risolier.de).
Lotao's rice specialties are purchased under fair conditions for the producers. The testing process for the organic seal has already been initiated. “We want to give people good things: our Asian partners a fair wage for their work and our customers a perfect product. That is Lotao’s philosophy,” says Stefan Fak. Lotao supports initiatives to protect rare rice varieties. Genetic modifications or artificial flavor enhancers are consistently rejected.

For interview requests and to request product samples and images, please contact the press office. You can find more information about the rice specialties, packaging and prices at www.lotao.com.

About Lotao (www.lotao.com)

The Austrian Stefan Fak (38) founded Lotao GmbH in Berlin in 2010. Lotao brings exquisite Asian rice varieties to the German-speaking market and wants to convey its own attitude to life through the stories associated with it.
Lotao's high-quality products are in the delicatessen segment and are primarily aimed at discerning connoisseurs who care about the quality and origin of food. Lotao products are available via the online shop ( www.lotao.com ) and selected delicatessen retailers (including Käfer Munich, KaDaWe and Galeries Lafayette Berlin, OSCHÄTZCHEN Hamburg).
By refining them with perfectors and elixirs, Lotao's rice specialties spark new culinary experiences. Perfectioners develop in the rice when added shortly before serving. The loose structure of the rice is retained and is refined by the bouquet of the spicy mixtures. Elixirs are rice oil-based compositions that give the finished rice a smooth consistency and a stimulating shine. They are enriched with selected notes and give the rice a fragrant fullness.


Press contact: Contact Lotao:
Press office Lotao Lotao GmbH
c/o Katja Weinhold Stefan Fak
Tel.: +49 (0)30 397 944 06 Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Straße 9
10178 Berlin
Email: presse@lotao.com Email: stefan.fak@lotao.com
www.lotao.com www.lotao.com