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Recently, a group of students recreated the rice dish using an ancient recipe, and the results were surprising.
According to China Daily, the task was accomplished by researchers from the Yuelu Academy of Hunan University in China.
The project is based on an ancient bamboo text known as the Shi Fan manuscript.
This text contains extensive knowledge of ancient Chinese culinary customs, offering recipes from steamed fish to chicken soup.
Bringing together 10 students from Hunan University and one from China Agricultural University in Beijing, the team began the process of recreating an ancient rice recipe from a 2,000-year-old manuscript.
Recent efforts by students in China to cook a 2,000-year-old rice dish have resulted in a “pleasant texture.” (iStock)
The researchers also selected a non-glutinous rice variety that resembled white rice from the Han Dynasty. After many experiments, the team developed a strategy to recreate the recipe.
Using wooden steamers and clay pots, the students soaked the rice for half an hour before draining it. They then steamed it for 20 minutes and allowed it to cool before adding more water and steaming for another 15 minutes.
However, unlike modern rice, which is usually described as fluffy and grainy, the ancient rice was found to be “loose but elastic,” China Daily reported.
The rice also had a “pleasant texture and significantly lower sugar content [than modern rice].”
The students carefully steamed and drained the rice several times to replicate the ancient cooking method. (iStock)
According to China Daily, American professor Peter Brian Ditmanson, who works at Yuelu Academy, described the dish as “comfort food.”
Hunan University student Luo Jiayi spoke enthusiastically about the experiment in an interview.
“Thanks to the bright and interesting bamboo sticks, the ancient gourmets of 2,000 years ago came to life in front of me,” she noted.
An American professor in China has described rice prepared using an ancient recipe as a 'comfort food'. (iStock)
“Cooking rice during the Western Han Dynasty has deepened our understanding of the richness and charm of traditional Chinese culture,” Luo added.
Yuelu Academy Associate Professor Shi Jing praised the project, but noted that recreating historical recipes has its limitations.
The 2,000-year-old recipe comes from an ancient text known as the Shi Fang manuscript. (iStock)
“While complete authenticity is unattainable, the combination of Han Dynasty techniques with modern technology allows students to tap into ancient wisdom,” Shi said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Dittmanson for additional comment.
Sourse: www.foxnews.com
