Job’s Tears with Ginger & Lemon

Job’s Tears, also known as ‘Coix Seeds’ or ‘Pearl Barley’ has been known to be used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for ages. According to an article which I found on chinesemedicineliving.com, Job’s Tears are known to “promote diuresis and invigorate the spleen, relieve dampness obstruction and eliminates the phlegm. They can also clear the heat away and drain pus. (Chan, V.)”. I was also told by my late maternal grandmother that a regular consumption of Job’s Tears over time, can help improves your complexion. 

Apart from its goodness, it is also a nice soup to have post overindulgence of spicy, oily food or during a hot day (It’s always sunny in this part of the world). You can learn more about its goodness from the internet but here I just want to share with you the recipe of this classic Chinese dessert, Job’s Tears soup, because of its refreshing taste. I added ginger and lemon slices for a nice twist to this dessert. 

Job’s Tears with Ginger and Lemon

Ingredients:

• Job’s Tears – 1 cup (wash & rinse)
• Ginger – 5 slices (or more, depends on your taste)
• Lemon – few slices  (again, depends on you)
• Screwpine leaf – 1, tie into a knot (optional)
• Water – 8 to 10 cups
• Sugar syrup or sweetener of your choice (preferably rock sugar syrup)

1. Boil job’s tears in water. Add in screwpine leaf, ginger slices as you go. You will notice the seeds gradually reducing in size and shrink. 
2. Add lemon slices once you noticed the water have reduced to half of its original amount and the seeds begin to have similar appearance to barley. You can add more water if you prefer it to have more ‘diluted’ taste.
3. Boil for another 10-15 minutes or more. Taste the seeds, the texture should be soft and cooked by now. 
4. Serve it in a bowl with sugar syrup on the side for sweetener. Can be served hot, warm or cold.

Hope you will try this simple and easy to make, healthy dessert. And let me know if you like it by leaving me a comment in the section below.

Xoxo,

Z.