The beginnings of agriculture in eastern Asia date to Neolithic times, 7000 to 9000 years ago, with rice cultivation about 4000 BCE. Agricultural origins in the Indus valley occur about the same time. In North China and Manchuria, a civilization was established about 2000 BCE and by the Zhou dynasty, 1000 BCE, there is evidence of canals and extensive irrigation. The writings of Confucius (551–...

While rice is one of the world’s most important and productive staple foods, it is highly diversified in uses and varieties, including East and Southeast Asian sticky (or glutinous) forms. While stickiness to some degree can be achieved by cooking methods, true sticky (or waxy) rice is the result of a genetic mutation that causes a loss of amylose starch in favour of high amylopectin content. T...