River Cereal

original: 川穀, Chuāngǔ; a wild variety of Job's Tears (Coix lacryma-jobi)

According to the Famine Relief Materia Medica original: Jiuhuang Bencao, a famous Ming dynasty text detailing edible wild plants for survival during crop failures, the River Cereal grows in the wild fields of Fanshui County located in modern-day Henan Province. The seedlings reach a height of three to four feet. The leaves resemble those of young kudzu or sorghum original: 葛秫, géshú, though they are slightly smaller.

Small clusters of yellow-white flowers bloom between the leaves. The plant bears seeds that resemble Job’s Tears original: 草珠兒, cǎozhū'ér, literally "grass beads", though they are quite small. The flavor of the seeds is sweet.

Preparation for Consumption:
To prepare the seeds, harvest them and pound them to remove the husks, turning them into a grain. When using them raw, first rinse them clean with cold water. Afterward, scald them with boiling water three to five times, draining the water each time this process likely removes tannins or bitterness found in the wild variety. They can then be placed in a pot and cooked as either porridge or steamed rice; both are suitable for eating. These seeds are also capable of being used to brew wine.