Job’s Tears
Ingredient Name: Job’s Tears, Coixseed, Chinese Pearl Barley, Adlay
Traditional Chinese Name: 薏仁 (yì rén)
What is this?
- Job’s tears come from a grain-bearing plant native to East Asia and currently cultivated in most parts of the world
- It has a higher-than average protein to carbohydrate ratio than other grains
- In Asia, they are used in a medicinal fashion
- Some cultures also grind them down into a flour or use them to make beer
- Although it is known as “Chinese pearl barley”, it is not a part of the barley family
- When eaten, they have a warm, nutty, slightly sweet flavor
- Job’s tears can also be used to make tea in some parts of Asia
- A common ingredient used in soups that are made for the Spring season (to eliminate the wetness and extra moisture from the body)
How do I prepare it?
- Simply wash and put into your soups
Where can I buy this?
- Dried Job’s tears can be purchased at most Asian grocery stores and some supermarkets
What is the cost?
- Like most grains, job’s tears are inexpensive to purchase
Any benefits?
- According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, job’s tears can be used to treat internal dampness and damp-heat conditions, including disorders of the spleen, stomach, lungs, and large intestine. Specifically, it is used to treat conditions such as rheumatism
- Job’s tear are diuretic and used to promote urination and treat edema
- Some believe job’s tears can be used to treat joint pain
- It is also known as a mild sedative
Any precautions?
- No significant precautions although consuming too much may lead to dehydration.
- Not recommended for pregnant women.
References
Pearl Barley
