Coix Seed Yi Yi Ren Dried Job’s Tears Whole Grain Herbal Ingredient for Soup Congee and Tea

Coix Seed, known in TCM as Yi Yi Ren (薏苡仁), is the dried whole seed of Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen. These large-grain Job's tears are sold in their natural whole form, sourced from Guizhou. In TCM theory, coix seed is sweet and bland in flavor and slightly cold in nature, traditionally associated with the spleen, stomach, and lung channels. It is a versatile pantry herb for soups, congee, and herbal teas, suitable for everyday traditional wellness cooking.

Key Selling Points

• Dried whole Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen seeds in natural unprocessed form
• Known in TCM as Yi Yi Ren (薏苡仁), a classic spleen and dampness herb
• Large-grain Job's tears sourced directly from Guizhou origin
• Size-sorted stock with no mixing of large and small grains
• Versatile ingredient for congee, soups, decoctions, and herbal teas

Quality & Sensory

Typically pale cream to off-white with a smooth, hard, oval grain and a mild, faintly starchy aroma. When simmered, the seeds soften to a tender, slightly chewy texture with a clean, mild, subtly sweet taste.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Simmer into congee with rice, red beans, or lotus seeds
• Add to slow-cooked soups and herbal broths
• Brew as a mild caffeine-free herbal tea
• Combine in traditional dampness-clearing decoction blends
• Use in seasonal summer wellness recipes

Traditional Uses

In TCM practice, Yi Yi Ren is traditionally used to support healthy dampness metabolism and spleen function, and it appears in classic formulas such as Yi Yi Ren Tang and Shen Ling Bai Zhu San. It is commonly cooked with adzuki bean and poria in dampness-draining soups, simmered into winter melon soup, or added to summer congee. Lightly dry-fried coix seed is a traditional preparation considered gentler on the spleen.

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