Quote Originally Posted by Animeniax View Post
Nah we love sticky rice where I come from (SE Asia). We wash it to fool ourselves that it is cleaned of all the funk that might have gotten on the rice during production and transport as you said. In the same vein we still get bottled water by the gallon instead of drinking tap water.
Ever gone to Hong Kong? It's common practice there to wash your utensils with hot water or tea at the table of restaurants before eating. It might do something, but it's not the antiseptic technique the locals believe it to be. Tap water quality varies, so I can see why people can develop a habit from living in less fortunate areas.