Job's tears
A grain-bearing grass used as beads and cereal.
Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi), also known as adlay or adlay millet, is a tall grain-bearing perennial tropical plant of the family Poaceae, native to Southeast Asia. It has been introduced to Northern China and India in remote antiquity and naturalized in the southern United States and the New World tropics. The species includes a wild variety with hard-shelled pseudocarps used as beads and a cultivated variety harvested as a cereal crop and used in traditional medicine.
- native_region
- Southeast Asia
- introduced_to
- Northern China and India in remote antiquity
- naturalized_in
- Southern United States and New World tropics
- family
- Poaceae (grass family)
- varieties
- Two main: wild (Coix lacryma-jobi var. lacryma-jobi) and cultivated (Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen)
- uses
- Beads for prayer beads, necklaces; cereal crop; traditional medicine
Lore & Background
Job's tears is native to Southeast Asian countries including India, Myanmar, China, and Malaysia. Residue on pottery from a Neolithic site in north-central China shows it was used to brew beer as early as ca. 3000 BC. It was introduced to Japan in the Early Jōmon Period, corroborated by phytolith studies in western Japan dating to ca. 4000 BC. Remains have been found in northeastern India dating to around 1000 BC, and scholars support cultivation in India in the 2000–1000 BC period. The wild varieties have hard-coated seeds; domestication made the seed coat softer and easier to cook.
Reader's Guide
Job's tears holds significance as one of the earliest domesticated crops, bridging craft and subsistence. Its hard-shelled variety has been used for millennia to make prayer beads, necklaces, and rosaries across Asia and beyond, while the soft-shelled cultivated variety serves as a cereal and medicinal ingredient. The plant's name derives from Arabic 'dumūʿ ʾAyyūb' (tears of Job), introduced to Europe by Arab merchants in the Middle Ages. In Japan, the beads are called juzudama and have been used since before Buddhism arrived, with folklorist Kunio Yanagita arguing they simulated cowrie shells in cultural transmission. The species was named by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. Despite being sold as 'Chinese pearl barley', it is not closely related to barley. Its taxonomy includes four accepted varieties as of February 2015, with the cultivated variety named after General Ma Yuen, who legend says brought the seeds from Vietnam to China.
Did You Know?
- The name 'Job's tears' is a calque of Arabic 'dumūʿ ʾAyyūb', used by Arab merchants who introduced the plant to Europe in the Middle Ages.
- The wild variety has hard, pearly white pseudocarps used as beads; the cultivated variety has a soft shell and is used as a cereal crop.
- Residue on pottery from a Neolithic site in north-central China shows Job's tears was used to brew beer as early as ca. 3000 BC.
- In Japan, the grains are called juzudama ('Buddhist rosary beads'), and folklorist Kunio Yanagita argued their use predated the introduction of Buddhism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Job's tears in Korean cuisine?
Job's tears is a tall, grain-producing grass (Coix lacryma-jobi) belonging to the Poaceae family that has long been valued in East Asian cooking and folk medicine. In Korean kitchens, the cultivated variety is typically prepared as a cereal grain or brewed into a soothing drink.
Where did Job's tears originally come from?
The plant is native to Southeast Asia, though it was carried to Northern China and India in very early historical periods. Over time it also took root in the southern United States and other tropical regions of the Americas.
What are the two main varieties of Job's tears?
There is a wild form (var. lacryma-jobi) whose hard, glossy outer shells are traditionally strung into prayer beads and decorative necklaces, and a cultivated form (var. ma-yuen) grown specifically as an edible grain and medicinal ingredient.
How is Job's tears actually used in practice?
Beyond its role as a starchy cereal in porridges and congee, the grain has long featured in traditional East Asian herbal remedies. The wild variety's tough pseudocarps are also shaped into beads for jewelry and religious accessories.
Why is Job's tears considered important in Korean food culture?
It bridges the gap between everyday grain cooking and centuries-old herbal practice, giving it both nutritional and therapeutic significance. Its dual identity as a food crop and a medicinal plant sets it apart in the Korean pantry.
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