Grain
Job's Tears
Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi) is an Asian cereal grass with plump, tear-shaped grains used in soups, teas, porridges, and bead-like soft-cooked sides. Culinary soft-shelled types differ from hard ornamental beads. Flavour is mild, slightly sweet, and corn-like. Common in Chinese, Korean, and Southeast Asian cookery as yi yi ren / hato mugi.
Also known as: Yi yi ren / Yami, Hato mugi, Yulmu, Ý dĩ, Duay
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Cuts & parts
Breeds & varieties
A sample of named types with their own origin and culinary profiles.
Characteristics
Preparations
Provenance
Sources
Traits
Nutrition and pairings
Nutrition
Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.
Nutrition Facts
Per 100 g edible portion
Amount per 100 g
- Total Fat 2.62 g
- Saturated Fat 0.56 g
- Trans Fat 0 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 0.62 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 1.44 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Sodium 5.11 mg
- Salt 0.01 g
- Total Carbohydrate 66.2 g
- Dietary Fibre 6.11 g
- Total Sugars 0.95 g
- Complex / starch 62.7 g
- Protein 9.24 g
- Water 15.9 g
- Energy 325 kcal
- Water 15.9 g
- Carbohydrates 66.2 g
- Sugars 0.95 g
- Monosaccharides 0.66 g
- Disaccharides 0.29 g
- Starch 62.7 g
- Amylose 15.7 g
- Amylopectin 47 g
- Digestible Starch 53.3 g
- Resistant Starch 6.27 g
- Fibre 6.11 g
- Soluble Fibre 2.14 g
- Insoluble Fibre 3.97 g
- Protein 9.24 g
- Plant Protein 8.78 g
- Fat 2.62 g
- Saturated Fat 0.56 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 0.62 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 1.44 g
- Vitamins 61.7 mg
- Vitamin A 20 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.31 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.1 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 4 mg
- Vitamin B5 — Pantothenic Acid 0.59 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.25 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 2.9 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 28.9 µg
- Vitamin C 2 mg
- Vitamin E 0.75 mg
- Vitamin K 1.9 µg
- Minerals 306 mg
- Major Minerals 299 mg
- Trace Minerals 6.6 mg
- Salt 0.01 g
- Sodium Chloride 0.01 g
- Bioactive Compounds 57 mg
- Caffeine 57 mg
Vitamins
vitamin-c: 2 · vitamin-a: 20 · vitamin-b1-thiamine: 0.31 · vitamin-b2-riboflavin: 0.1 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 4 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 0.59 · vitamin-b6: 0.25 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 2.9 · vitamin-b9-folate: 28.9 · vitamin-e: 0.75 · vitamin-k: 1.9 ·
Minerals
Sodium: 5.11 · Potassium: 247 · Calcium: 47 · Iron: 1.2 · Zinc: 0.4 · Iodine: 5 ·
Dry grains are starch-forward with bran fibre when whole; refining strips fibre and some minerals.
In the kitchen
Culinary partners and combinations that usually underperform with Job's Tears.
Pairs well with
Classic and complementary matches
History
Job's tears were cultivated in East Asia as food grain and traditional decoction ingredient.
Hato mugi entered Japanese food and tea culture as a nourishing grain.
Soft-shelled culinary strains were distinguished more clearly from hard bead types.
Specialty Asian groceries and health markets expanded Job's tears globally.