How Some Asian Cultures Use Chopsticks Differently

Chopsticks are used by many different Asian cultures in many different ways, and considering they've been around for an estimated six thousand years it'd be silly to think otherwise.

But it seems how they're used, what they're made out of and what they're used to eat varies by country rather than by type of cuisine.

In Japan chopsticks are used to eat anything that's not considered hand food, and the debate whether sushi is hand food or not rages on.

In Hong Kong and mainland China chopsticks are used for traditional rice and noodle dishes, and any western foods are eaten with knife and fork.

And in Thailand chopsticks are often used to load up your spoon with ingredients from the bowl before you take a bite.

Mashable asked foodies from various countries how chopsticks are used in their culture, and it seems the one thing they all agree on is this- don't stick them in your bowl standing straight up, as this is symbolically associated with death.

Read One Size Does Not Fit All: How Some Asian Cultures Use Chopsticks Differently here