What is the difference between adzuki beans (Xudou) and red beans (Rice beans)?

Both adzuki beans and red beans are annual herbs belonging to the genus Vigna of the legume family. Both contain rich nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, etc., but they have certain differences in appearance, taste and nutritional content.

1. Different aliases: Adzuki bean is also called red bean and red bean; adzuki bean is also known as rice bean, red rice bean, protein bean and red mountain bean.

2. Different appearance: Red bean is relatively round in shape and looks very full overall; adzuki bean is relatively small in size, slender in shape, a bit flat, and looks rather slender overall. The difference between the two is very obvious when compared.

3. Different distribution ranges: Adzuki beans are mainly distributed in North China, Northeast my country, and the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. Henan, Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi and the three northeastern provinces have larger planting areas; Adzuki beans are mainly distributed in Hebei, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Yunnan and other provinces in my country.

4. Different colors: adzuki beans are date red or dark red in color; adzuki beans are vermilion or black red in color.

5. Different hardness and taste: Red beans are not very hard. Generally, they become soft after being boiled in water. They have a delicate, sweet and soft taste. They are suitable for making desserts such as red bean cakes and red bean paste. Red beans have a hard texture and will have a hard taste even after being stewed for a long time. They have a strong sweet taste.

6. Different effects: Adzuki beans have the effects of dispelling wind and heat, moisturizing the skin and beautifying the face, while red beans have the effects of promoting diuresis and removing dampness, detoxifying and relieving nodules, and moisturizing the intestines and promoting bowel movements.

7. Different ways of eating: Red beans are mostly used to cook porridge and make bean paste; red beans are mostly used to make soup, of course, they can also be used to cook rice, porridge, etc.