Job's tears / coix seed

The polished kernel of Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi), a teardrop-shaped grain sold raw (生薏米) or toasted (熟薏米); Hong Kong practice uses half of each. It cooks to a chewy, barley-like grain that lightens the pot and lends a clean, faintly milky note to damp-clearing soups such as winter melon or old cucumber soup.

TCM properties

Nature · cooling　Flavour · sweet、bland　Meridians · spleen、stomach、lung

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese food therapy raw Job's tears is used to clear damp-heat and promote water flow, while the toasted grain is preferred for strengthening the spleen; the customary half-and-half mix covers both.

Cautions — read first

• [SAFETY CRITICAL] Pregnant women should use with caution or avoid it (tradition holds it slippery and draining, so soups for pregnancy use hyacinth bean (扁豆) in place of Job's tears).
• Use with care if your fluids run short or you are constipated.
• If your constitution runs cold and weak, use roasted Job's tears (熟薏米).

Preparation

Soak and rinse; use half raw and half roasted together.

Origin · Geo-authentic (道地) source

貴州興仁、福建（浦城、寧化）為道地優選產區 — AU stock observed is raw 生薏米 in Chinese-brand packs (Henghui)

Availability in Australia

Common at Asian grocers · A$1.6–1.6 / 100g
Henghui Premium Raw Job's Tears 200g $3.19 (raw/生薏米 form)

Pairs well with