Sticky rice mortar is a type of building material made from a combination of sticky rice and a mixture of sand, water, and lime. It has been used for thousands of years in China and Southeast Asia to build important structures like temples, walls, and houses.
The sticky rice is first soaked in water for several hours to soften it. Then it is ground up into a paste and mixed with the sand, water, and lime. The mixture is stirred together until it becomes a thick, sticky substance that can be easily molded into any shape.
When the sticky rice mortar is used to build structures, it is applied between layers of bricks or stones. As the mortar dries, it becomes incredibly strong and hard, holding the bricks or stones together tightly for many years.
One of the reasons that sticky rice mortar is so effective as a building material is because of the unique properties of the sticky rice itself. It contains a type of starch that helps to bind the ingredients together and also makes the mixture more resistant to water damage.
Overall, sticky rice mortar is a fascinating example of how people have been able to use natural materials to create durable and long-lasting buildings for many centuries.