Carnaroli is an Italian medium-grained rice grown in the Pavia, Novara and Vercelli provinces of northern Italy. Carnaroli is used for making risitto, differing from the more common aborio rice due to its higher starch content and firmer texture, as well as having a longer grain. Carnaroli rice keeps its shape better than other forms of rice during the slow cooking required for making risotto. It is the most widely used rice in Italian cuisine, and is highly prized. It is often described as a "superfino" rice or as "the king of rices"