If rice isn’t a staple meal in your culture, then chances are you’re not going to realize there’s much use for rice outside being served on a plate. But the fact is rice and it’s source, the paddy plant are very versatile and the people of Asia have been maximizing their use for centuries. So here are some interesting facts about the many uses of rice aside from being a good source of carbohydrate.
What can you do with rice if not eat it.
1. Make folk art
I guess it’s not very surprising anymore that colored rice makes lovely floor arrangement as the kolum gains popularity across cultures. However the Chittara which is a completely different form of folk art and is today also a dying one. So what’s the Chittara? Well it’s a form of mural art that uses natural substances to make paint (White from a mixture of rice paste and white mud, red from crushed stone, burnt rice for deepest black, yellow from ‘gurige’ seeds). It is an art, expert to the women of Malnad (Karnataka),Hasunvanthe, Honnemaradu and Majina Kaanu. The designs are intricate geometric motifs that form anything inspired by the artists everyday life so that could be patterns like yogic ‘asana’ poses or even tribal figures celebrating life. These murals use to adorn walls but now they are also done on hand made rice paper.
2. Beauty secret
Ground rice powder are used by the women of Asia to preserve their skin. A traditional application used to rid the skin of blemishes, fine lines/wrinkles and keep it fair and bright, rice powder shaped into little droplets (kind of like chocolate chips) and sold in bottles at medicinal shops.
3. Alcohol
If you don’t fancy eating rice, maybe you wouldn’t mind drinking it. There are many asian beverages that are made from rice and the famous Japanese Sake is one of them.
4. Edible Candy Wrappers
Do you love those candies that come wrapped in this thin sheet on paper that melts in your mouth? Well that’s made from rice.
5. Rice glue
Plain and simple, you can make glue from rice.
Rice….not just on your plate anymore.
