H-KR-042

Job's Tears Tea (Yulmu-cha)

율무차

Roasted grain tisane, from Gangwon, South Korea.

Herbal tisanes

Job's Tears Tea (Yulmu-cha) is strongest on nutty, sweetness and body. Typical tasting words: toasted grain, peanut, walnut, cereal. Job's tears have been consumed across East Asia for centuries as both grain and medicine; the powdered roasted tea emerged as a twentieth-century convenience staple. In South Korea, it is frequently served from vending machines and consumed as a hearty, comforting mid-morning snack drink.

Also known as Yulmucha, Job's tears tea, Coix seed tea and Adlay tea.

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The profile

Taste, 0 to 5

sweetness4bitterness0astringency0umami1brightness0body4smoothness4aroma intensity3finish length3

Flavour families, 0 to 5

floral0fruity0vegetal0marine0nutty5toasty4malty3honey1spicy0woody0earthy1smoky0creamy3citrus0stone fruit0tropical0cocoa0caramel2

Facts

Origin: Gangwon, South Korea
Plant: Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen seeds
Harvest: Autumn harvest
Elevation: low
Oxidation: to %
Roast: medium
Leaf: powder
Price band: affordable
Availability: fairly common
Ageing: a little
Forgiving to brew: 5 of 5
L-theanine: none

Made by: harvesting, then dehulling, then roasting, then milling.

Caffeine

Job's Tears Tea (Yulmu-cha) is caffeine-free. Figures are estimates for a 240 ml cup. Low enough to suit the evening for most people. The caffeine planner turns this into a daily total.

How to brew it

Method	Leaf	Water	Steeps
Western, 250 ml	12.5 g	90 to 95 °C	60 s

Up to 1 infusions. Scale for your own pot with the brew calculator.

Drinking it

morning
afternoon
breakfast
midday
cold_weather

Pairs with pastry, nuts and breakfast_dishes. Milk: yes. Iced: no. Sweetener: yes. Good for beginners: yes.