Discover the Secret to Radiant Skin with Adzuki Beans: A Time-Tested Ingredient with Incredible Exfoliating Power!
Let's take a closer look at the Adzuki Bean, a coveted skincare ingredient used in many Asian cultures.
Origin: Adzuki bean, also known as the red bean or red mung bean, is an annual vine that's widely cultivated throughout East Asia. The first variety of the Adzuki bean was discovered around 50,000 years ago. This bean is mainly grown in China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, but it's also grown in other countries such as the US, South America, India, New Zealand, Kongo, and Angola.
Uses in History: This coveted red bean is usually used in the culinary world, from sweet desserts to soups and stews. Adzuki beans are also commonly eaten sprouted or boiled in a hot tea-like drink. Traditionally in Japan, rice with Adzuki beans is cooked for special occasions, and used in desserts by boiling it with sugar to make (anko) a deliciously rich red bean paste and used in pastries, mochi, cakes, and more. The Japanese started using this bean in skincare as well and have been using it for centuries. After harvesting the pods of the bean, women would use stone to ground them into a powder, place the beans in a small silk bag, and use it with a bit of water to create a creamy exfoliating scrub for their face and body.
How did it get popular: Adzuki beans contain saponin which gives a natural foaming action to help remove dead skin cells and help draw out any pore-clogging particles such as dirt and bacteria that causes acne. Saponins also help tighten the skin and soften the skin as the bean promotes circulation in the skin, providing a gorgeous healthy glow.
When did it start becoming popular and used in the modern world: In the modern world, Adzuki bean has become a popular ingredient in skincare products, especially in exfoliators. To incorporate this ingredient into our soaps, we grind it very fine and strain it through a fine mesh to produce a powder-like texture. We then add it to our goat milk soap base at trace and mix it in all by hand. We stir until just incorporated and we pour it into our molds. After hand-cutting them and curing for 8 weeks, these bars are ready to be used!
Here are the top benefits of Adzuki beans:
- Provides the best, skin smoothing exfoliation to the skin, leaving it soft and supple.
- Contains antioxidants that help neutralize harmful free radicals in the skin.
- Improves blood circulation in the skin, promoting a healthy glow.
- Helps tighten the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Can be used on any part of the body for a gentle yet effective exfoliating experience.
Shop this amazing exfoliating bar of Adzuki Bean soap here
The Adzuki bean is a very unique ingredient that everyone should know about! We hope this article has shed some light on its fascinating history and all the benefits it can provide to your skin. Be sure to check out our Adzuki bean goat milk soap and experience the amazing benefits yourself!