Ingredient Name:  Azuki Beans (also spelled Adzuki Beans)

Traditional Chinese Name: 赤小豆 (chì xiǎo dòu)

• 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
• 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

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azuki_bean
• http://www.adzuki.com/