Rice Beans

by | Jun 19, 2010 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

Ingredient Name: Rice beans, rice bean, vigna umbellata, ricebean,

Traditional Chinese Name: 飯豆 (fàn dòu) or 赤小豆 (Chì xiǎo dòu)

What is this?
  • The small edible beans of a warm season annual vine that has yellow flowers that is commonly grown in India and Nepal, but also now extending to China
  • Easily grown as they grow in most conditions and any soil, is pest resistant and often used to produce animal fodder and high quality grain
  • Rice bean is used in soups, sauces as whole or sometimes ground as flour to be fried or used in snacks
  • The beans are small and narrow in length and quite hard and usually dark red or brown in color

How do I prepare it?

  • Rinse well in warm water
  • If used in soups, soaking is not needed

Where can I buy this?

  • Wet marts in Hong Kong will carry this
  • Also sometimes available in your local herbalist

What is the cost?

  • 20 g cost around $5 HKD

Any benefits?

  • Helps in conditions of the eyes (red eyes)
  • Good source of protein

Any precautions?

  • A cause of flatulence
  • There is not much scientific study in this type of bean, so there is not much information or impact of this product (as compared to azuki bean or other popular Asian beans)

Any additional information?

  • Store in a cool, dry place
  • Can store up to 6 months in a seal container

Resources

Azuki Beans

by | May 5, 2009 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

Ingredient Name:  Red Beans, Azuki Beans (also spelled Adzuki Beans)

Traditional Chinese Name: 赤小豆 (chì xiǎo dòu)

What is this?
  • A small, rounded bean that is roughly 5mm in size and is sweet to the taste
  • It is commonly found in East Asia and consumed by Chinese, Japanese and other Asians
  • Variations of the bean come in white, black, gray and brown
  • In Chinese cuisine, it is often eaten sweetend (red bean soup, red bean paste etc)

How do I prepare it?

  • Rinse in cold water before usage
  • For some soups and desserts, you’ll need to soak the beans for 1-2 hours prior to usage
  • Add directly to soups

Where can I buy this?

  • You can purchase azuki beans from most Asian supermarkets prepackaged
  • You can also purchase this in bulk from speciality stores

What is the cost?

  • A package should cost under $3-5 CAD

Any benefits?

  • Excellent source of magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc copper, manganese, and Vitamin B
  • Azuki beans are ideal for lower blood pressure and act as a natural diuretic
  • They provide an excellent source of protein and are rich in soluble fibre
  • They are also known to be cholesterol reducing

Any precautions?

  • Since beans are high in protein, people who have gout should be weary in their consumption volume

Additional Information?

  • Beans store very well in dry conditions and can keep for up to 6 months
  • These beans are versitile in their usage

Resources