Sticky Rice is 1,500 Year Old Secret to Super-Strong Chinese Buildings

Photo by Bridgette Meinhold

Per Inhabitat, Sticky Rice, a staple of the Chinese diet for centuries, also played a huge role in the construction of ultra-durable cities and walls. The glutinous side dish has been used since the Ming Dynasty to create a super-strong mortar that has helped keep ancient buildings intact and resisted earthquakes.  Scientists recently discovered what it is about glutinous rice that creates the super-strength mortar, and have also determined that sticky rice mortar is best available material to restore ancient and historic buildings.

---