Chinese barley (Job’s Tears, 薏米-Yì M`�) is used for its many culinary uses and incredible health advantages. For hundreds of years, it has been an essential component of Asian cuisine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).Chinese barley (job’s tears) is great for health. It helps with digestion, reduces bloating, and is often used in traditional Chinese medicine to cool the body. Plus, it’s light, naturally sweet (thanks to the red dates), and super easy to make.
This is a light, refreshing soup that’s slightly sweet and packed with health benefits. It’s great for cooling the body, aiding digestion, and just making you feel good. Plus, it’s super easy to make!
What You’ll Need:
- ½ cup Chinese barley (also called Job’s Tears)
- 10 dried red dates (jujubes), pitted
- ¼ cup dried lotus seeds
- 8 cups water
- 2 tbsp. rock sugar (or adjust to taste)
How to Make It:
- Give the barley, red dates, and lotus seeds a good rinse under running water. If your lotus seeds are really hard, soak them in water for about 30 minutes to soften.
- Bring about 8 cups of water to a boil in a pot.
- Toss in the barley, red dates, and lotus seeds, lower the heat, and let it simmer for 45 minutes to an hour until everything softens.
- Stir in the rock sugar and let it dissolve completely.
- And that’s it! Serve it warm for a cosy drink or chill it in the fridge for a refreshing treat.
1 Health Benefits
✔️ Good for Digestion: Helps with bloating, indigestion, and mild stomach issues.
✔️ Cooling Effect: In TCM, it’s believed to reduce “heat” in the body, making it great for hot weather or inflammation.
✔️ Supports Skin Health—Some say it helps clear acne and brightens skin.
✔️ Diuretic (reduces water retention): Helps flush out excess fluids, which can be useful if you feel puffy or swollen.
✔️ Boosts immunity—packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
2: Used in Traditional Remedies
Chinese barley is often used in detox soups, herbal teas, and porridge to treat colds, improve kidney function, and even aid weight loss.
3️⃣ How It’s Used in Cooking
It has a mild, nutty flavour and a slightly chewy texture. People use it in:
- Soups & broths (both sweet and savory)
- Porridge (like rice porridge but nuttier)
- Herbal teas
- Stir-fries & salads (as a grain substitute)
Chinese barley soup
Ingredients
- ½ cup Chinese barley also called Job’s Tears
- 10 dried red dates jujubes, pitted
- ¼ cup dried lotus seeds
- 8 cups water
- 2 tbsp rock sugar or adjust to taste
Instructions
- Give the barley, red dates, and lotus seeds a good rinse under running water. If your lotus seeds are really hard, soak them in water for about 30 minutes to soften.
- Bring about 8 cups of water to a boil in a pot.
- Toss in the barley, red dates, and lotus seeds, lower the heat, and let it simmer for 45 minutes to an hour until everything softens.
- Stir in the rock sugar and let it dissolve completely.
- And that’s it! Serve it warm for a cozy drink or chill it in the fridge for a refreshing treat.
