How to Soak Coix Seed?

Coix seed is highly nutritious, containing protein, carbohydrates, fat, crude fiber, vitamin B1, and other components. It also possesses significant medicinal value and can be used in two forms: raw and stir-fried. Coix seed is effective in promoting water metabolism, strengthening the spleen, relieving arthralgia, clearing heat, and discharging pus. It also has a beneficial effect on skin beauty, helping to lighten skin tone and leaving the skin delicate and smooth.

Raw coix seed cannot be soaked directly in water. Instead, it can be boiled with other foods for consumption. For instance, one can make a drink by combining washed and soaked red adzuki beans and coix seed for 24 hours or overnight. Place them in a pot of boiling water, adding enough water (similar to the amount used for making porridge). Boil until the water starts to boil, then turn off the heat and let it simmer for an hour. Repeat the boiling process until the water boils again, then turn off the heat, strain the soup, and enjoy. The red beans and coix seed can also be eaten as a meal or porridge.

Coix seed boasts a rich nutritional profile, including protein, fat, carbohydrates, crude fiber, minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron, vitamins B1 and B2, niacin, starch, leucine, arginine, lysine, tyrosine, fatty acids, coixenolide, coix seed oil, campesterol, alkaloids, and all eight essential amino acids for the human body. Notably, the content of protein, fat, and vitamin B1 in coix seed is significantly higher than that in rice.

Coix seed has two medicinal forms: raw and stir-fried. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is classified as a diuretic and damp-resolving herb. It has a sweet and slightly cool taste, making it suitable for promoting water metabolism, strengthening the spleen, relieving arthralgia, clearing heat, and discharging pus.