What are job's tears used for? Exploring its culinary, medicinal, and craft applications

December 23, 2025 •

4 min read

For over 4,000 years, the tear-drop shaped seeds of the Job's tears plant have been utilized across Asia for their nutritional, medicinal, and decorative value. So, what are job's tears used for in modern times? This versatile grain, also known as coix seed, is celebrated for its chewy texture and numerous purported benefits.

Quick Summary

Job's tears, or coix seed, are used as a chewy, nutritious, and gluten-free grain in food and beverages across Asia. It is also highly valued in traditional medicine for its health properties and for making natural beads for jewelry.

Key Points

Culinary Versatility: Job's tears function as a chewy, gluten-free grain used in soups, porridges, and drinks across many Asian cuisines.
Traditional Medicinal Uses: In TCM, job's tears (Yi Yi Ren) are believed to clear 'dampness,' strengthen the spleen, and have diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Supports Skin Health: The grain is used both internally and in topical extracts to improve skin complexion, manage acne, and reduce inflammation.
Potential Therapeutic Effects: Preliminary scientific studies suggest job's tears have antioxidant, anti-cancer, and cholesterol-lowering properties, though more human research is needed.
Crafting Material: The hard involucres of the wild plant, with their natural hole, are highly valued for making jewelry, rosaries, and other decorative beads.
Important Safety Cautions: Pregnant women should avoid job's tears due to the risk of uterine contractions, and people on diabetes medication should consult a doctor due to potential drug interactions.

Culinary Applications

Job's tears, often sold hulled and polished as "Chinese pearl barley," are a versatile ingredient in many Asian culinary traditions. They have a slightly sweet, earthy flavor and a distinctive chewy texture, similar to hominy. Unlike regular barley, job's tears are gluten-free, making them an excellent alternative for those with dietary restrictions.

Soups and Porridges

One of the most common culinary uses is in soups and porridges. The grains are added to broths to thicken them and provide a satisfying texture, much like other grains. In Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine, they are often used in sweet dessert soups, sometimes with other ingredients like sugar and coconut milk.

Beverages

Job's tears are frequently used to create healthy, non-alcoholic drinks. In China and Thailand, the boiled grains are used to make a cloudy, wheaty-tasting tea. In Korea, powdered roasted job's tears are brewed into a thick, nutritious, milk-like tea called "yulmu-cha". The grains can also be roasted and brewed as a coffee substitute. Historically, the fermented grain was also used to produce alcoholic beverages.

Grain and Flour

Cooked like rice or beans, job's tears can be served as a side dish or mixed with other grains for added texture and nutrients. When ground into flour, they can be used in baking. However, because they are gluten-free, the flour must often be combined with other flours to make baked goods like bread.

Medicinal and Health Uses

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and other traditional practices have utilized the medicinal properties of both the seeds and roots of the job's tears plant for centuries. In TCM, the seeds (known as Yi Yi Ren) are classified as having cooling properties and are used to "clear dampness" and heat from the body.

Common Traditional Applications

Promotes Diuresis: Used to help the body get rid of excess fluid and treat conditions like edema and urinary problems.
Spleen Support: Helps strengthen the spleen and improve digestion, often used for diarrhea.
Skin Health: Valued for its effect on skin complexion, including clearing acne, reducing inflammation, and moisturizing.
Rheumatism: Used to address joint pain and inflammation, particularly conditions related to "dampness".

Modern Scientific Research and Warnings

While traditional uses are well-documented, modern research is still emerging, and many findings are based on animal or in vitro studies.

Cholesterol and Weight Management: Some studies suggest the fiber in job's tears may help reduce cholesterol and support weight loss by increasing satiety.
Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory: Bioactive compounds in job's tears have demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in preliminary studies.
Cancer Research: Certain components, such as coixenolide and specific fatty acids, have shown potential anti-cancer activity in lab studies, with an injectable extract (Kanglaite) even used therapeutically in China.
Important Warnings: Job's tears should be avoided during pregnancy, as animal studies indicate it can induce uterine contractions. It can also interact with diabetes medications, potentially causing blood sugar levels to drop too low. It is crucial to consult a healthcare provider before using job's tears as a medical treatment.

Craft and Ornamental Uses

Beyond the kitchen and medicine cabinet, the wild variety of job's tears has a long history as a natural crafting material. The bead-like involucres (the hard, tear-shaped shells that protect the seed) are naturally hollow, with a perfect hole for stringing.

Jewelry: The hard, polished seeds are widely used to make necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.
Rosaries and Decorations: Due to their tear-drop shape and natural perforation, the beads have been used for centuries to create rosaries and other religious artifacts. They are also woven into decorative items like curtains and handbags.
Ornamental Plant: The tall, grass-like plant is also cultivated in gardens for its attractive foliage and unique ornamental seeds.

Job's Tears vs. Pearl Barley

While often mistaken for one another, especially in Western markets, job's tears and pearl barley are distinct grains. Understanding their differences is key to choosing the right one for your needs.


Feature	Job's Tears (Coix lacryma-jobi)	Pearl Barley (Hordeum vulgare)
Botanical Family	Poaceae	Poaceae (different genus)
Gluten	Gluten-free	Contains gluten
Appearance	Rounder, slightly larger, white/creamy with a distinctive crease	Smaller, pearl-shaped, beige/tan
Texture	Chewy, firm, tender when cooked	Softens significantly, less chewy
Primary Uses	Grain, flour, tea, traditional medicine, jewelry/crafts	Grain, soups, stews, baking

Nutritional Breakdown

Job's tears are packed with nutrients, making them a healthy addition to any diet. They are a rich source of protein, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals. Specifically, they contain B vitamins (including thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin), vitamin E, and essential minerals such as calcium, potassium, iron, and zinc. This robust nutritional profile supports metabolism and can aid in digestion.

Conclusion

From the kitchen to the crafting table and the medicine cabinet, the uses of job's tears are extensive and diverse. This ancient grain serves as a nutritious, gluten-free food in many cultures, can be brewed into healthful teas and other beverages, and offers potential medicinal benefits supported by a growing body of research. While more human clinical trials are needed to fully understand its therapeutic potential, its rich history and versatile applications ensure it remains a fascinating and valuable resource. Whether you are using it in a savory soup, a refreshing drink, or a piece of handcrafted jewelry, job's tears offer a unique combination of utility and history. For more information on creating botanical crafts, see the Brooklyn Botanic Garden guide on making earrings with job's tears.

Frequently Asked Questions

While visually similar and often mistaken for one another, job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi) are a distinct, gluten-free grain, unlike pearl barley (Hordeum vulgare), which contains gluten.

Yes, job's tears are naturally gluten-free. This makes them a suitable grain alternative for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities, unlike traditional pearl barley.

Cooked job's tears have a mild, slightly sweet and earthy flavor. Their texture is notably chewy and firm, often compared to hominy or large pearl barley.

To cook, rinse the seeds, then simmer them in water until tender and chewy, which typically takes about 45 to 55 minutes. Soaking beforehand can reduce cooking time, though it is not strictly necessary.

No, job's tears are not considered safe during pregnancy and should be avoided. Animal studies have shown that they can cause uterine contractions, which may harm a developing pregnancy.

Job's tears tea is a nutritious beverage made by boiling or brewing the grains. In Korea, a thicker, milky tea called "yulmu-cha" is made from roasted, ground job's tears, while in China, a thinner version is common.

You can find job's tears at most Asian grocery stores, natural food markets, and online retailers that specialize in grains and herbs. They are often labeled as coix seeds or Chinese pearl barley.

Yes, the hard, polished, tear-shaped involucres of the wild job's tears plant have a natural hole that makes them ideal for stringing into beads for jewelry, rosaries, and other decorative crafts.