Basic Chinese Chicken Soup Stock (Soup Base)

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

• http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3435100202.html

Pearl Barley