Small Red Beans (Chi Xiao Dou) — 400 g

Deep red beans. Mild, subtly sweet character. A versatile pantry staple for soups, congee and everyday cooking.

Discover Small Red Beans (Chi Xiao Dou / 赤小豆), whole dried beans with naturally deep red-to-burgundy skins, a small elongated shape and a mild, earthy flavour.

Once properly cooked, the beans develop a tender, creamy texture and subtle natural sweetness that works across both savoury and appropriate sweet preparations.

Each package contains 400 g / 14.11 oz of whole dried Chi Xiao Dou, providing a practical pantry quantity for soups, congee, grain porridges, mixed-grain dishes and traditional-inspired sweet bean recipes.

Why You’ll Appreciate Them

• Whole dried Chi Xiao Dou — specifically identified as 赤小豆

• Distinctive deep red colour — small, elongated beans with burgundy-red skins

• Tender cooked texture — soft and creamy when properly prepared

• Mild bean character — earthy, mellow and subtly sweet

• Savoury-to-sweet versatility — suitable for soups, congee, porridges and appropriate sweet bean dishes

• Generous 400 g size — practical for repeated everyday cooking

Product at a Glance

• Product: Small Red Beans

• Chinese name: 赤小豆

• Pinyin: Chi Xiao Dou

• Also known as: Small red beans · Chinese small red beans

• Format: Whole dried beans

• Net weight: 400 g / 14.11 oz

• Appearance: Small elongated beans with deep red-to-burgundy skins

• Flavour: Mild · Earthy · Mellow · Subtly sweet

• Cooked character: Tender and creamy when properly cooked

• Category: Dried beans / traditional Chinese pantry ingredient

• Best for: Soups · Congee · Grain porridges · Mixed-grain dishes · Sweet bean preparations

• Preparation: Cook thoroughly before serving according to package directions

• Packaging: Pantry package

• Product identity: Chi Xiao Dou / 赤小豆

• Important: Do not automatically identify this product as Adzuki Beans without confirmed supplier information

• Not: Red Kidney Beans

Natural dried beans may vary slightly in size, shape and colour.

What Is Chi Xiao Dou / 赤小豆?

Chi Xiao Dou / 赤小豆 is the traditional Chinese name used for this small red bean ingredient.

The name can be understood simply:

Chi / 赤 = Red
Xiao / 小 = Small
Dou / 豆 = Bean

So:

Chi Xiao Dou / 赤小豆 = Small Red Bean

The dried beans are recognizable by their small elongated shape, deep red-to-burgundy skin and pale seed scar.

Because English-language names for small red beans are not always used consistently, Chi Xiao Dou / 赤小豆 should remain the primary identity for this product.

Taste & Cooked Character

Properly cooked Chi Xiao Dou offers an approachable bean profile:

Mild · Earthy · Mellow · Subtly Sweet

Its gentle sweetness allows the beans to move naturally between savoury and appropriate sweet recipes.

When thoroughly cooked, the beans develop a:

Tender · Creamy · Comforting

texture particularly suited to slowly cooked soups, congee and porridges.

Final flavour and texture can vary according to soaking, cooking time, water quantity, preparation method and other ingredients.

How to Prepare

Chi Xiao Dou should be thoroughly cooked before serving.

Because soaking and cooking requirements can vary by product and recipe, follow the directions provided on the packaging.

A general preparation approach is:

1. Sort and measure the desired amount of dried beans.

2. Rinse according to the package directions.

3. Soak if required by the product instructions or recipe.

4. Add the recommended amount of fresh water.

5. Cook thoroughly until the beans reach the appropriate tenderness.

6. Incorporate the fully cooked beans into your chosen dish.

Do not rely on one universal cooking time or bean-to-water ratio for every preparation.

Do Chi Xiao Dou Need to Be Soaked?

Not always.

Soaking requirements can vary depending on the product, cooking method and recipe.

Follow the package-specific directions or the recipe being used rather than assuming a fixed soaking time.

Likewise, soup, congee, porridge and sweet bean preparations may require very different amounts of water.

Ways to Enjoy

Red Bean Congee

Combine properly prepared Chi Xiao Dou with rice or compatible grains according to an appropriate congee recipe.

The beans contribute deep red colour, creamy texture and mild bean character.

Red Bean Soup

Small red beans work naturally in comforting soup-style preparations.

Depending on the recipe, the finished dish may move in either a savoury or gently sweet direction.

Mixed-Grain Porridge

Explore Chi Xiao Dou alongside compatible rice, Coix seeds, millet or other grains for a multi-textured porridge.

Sweet Bean Preparations

Their subtle natural sweetness makes Chi Xiao Dou particularly suited to appropriate traditional-inspired sweet bean recipes.

Grain & Bean Dishes

Properly cooked small red beans can add colour, texture and bean character to suitable mixed-grain meals.

Best Ingredients to Pair with Chi Xiao Dou

Chi Xiao Dou + Coix Seeds

Deep red beans + ivory kernels

A contrasting combination of colour and texture for suitable congee, soup or porridge recipes.

Chi Xiao Dou + Black Rice

Deep red beans + purple-black grains

A visually distinctive combination for appropriate mixed-grain and porridge preparations.

Chi Xiao Dou + Rice

Rice provides a familiar grain base for suitable red-bean congee and mixed-grain dishes.

Chi Xiao Dou + Millet

Millet introduces a smaller grain texture alongside the whole red beans.

Chi Xiao Dou + Black Beans

Red and dark beans create visual and textural contrast in suitable multi-bean preparations.

Chi Xiao Dou + Red Jujube

Red jujube adds a mellow dried-fruit element to suitable porridge, soup or sweet preparations.

Different beans and grains may require different soaking and cooking times, so follow a recipe designed for the complete combination.

Chi Xiao Dou vs. Adzuki Beans

English-language retail naming around small red beans can be inconsistent.

Products labelled Chi Xiao Dou / 赤小豆 and products sold as Adzuki Beans may appear similar, but they should not automatically be assumed to identify exactly the same product without confirmed supplier information.

	Chi Xiao Dou	Products Sold as Adzuki Beans
Product Identity Here	Chi Xiao Dou / 赤小豆	Product-specific
Appearance	Small, elongated red beans	May appear similar
English Name	Small Red Beans / Chi Xiao Dou	Adzuki Beans
Automatically Identical?	No	No
Best Identification	Product packaging	Product-specific information

For this PandaHomeMart product, the confirmed identity is:

Chi Xiao Dou / 赤小豆

If supplier documentation later confirms a more specific botanical or commercial relationship, the product information can be updated.

Chi Xiao Dou vs. Red Kidney Beans

Chi Xiao Dou and Red Kidney Beans are different ingredients.

	Chi Xiao Dou	Red Kidney Beans
Size	Small	Much larger
Shape	Slender and elongated	Curved kidney shape
Colour	Deep red to burgundy	Red
Product Identity	Chi Xiao Dou / 赤小豆	Red Kidney Bean
Same Ingredient?	No	No

A simple visual distinction is:

Chi Xiao Dou → Small + Slender

Red Kidney Bean → Larger + Kidney-Shaped

They should not be substituted solely because both have red-coloured skins.

A Natural Addition to the Beans & Grains Pantry

Chi Xiao Dou fits naturally alongside:

Black Beans · Coix Seeds · Black Rice · Millet · Rice · Red Jujube · Traditional Grains

Within a varied pantry:

Black Beans → Dark · Earthy · Bean-grain dishes
Coix Seeds → Ivory · Mild · Congee & soups
Black Rice → Purple-black · Grain-forward
Chi Xiao Dou → Deep red · Creamy · Subtly sweet · Savoury-to-sweet versatility

This gives Chi Xiao Dou a clear role as a comforting red-bean staple for everyday Chinese-inspired cooking.

Storage & Care

Keep the package tightly sealed in a cool, dry place away from moisture, excessive humidity, heat, direct sunlight and strong odours.

Use a clean, dry scoop or utensil when handling the beans.

Refer to the product packaging for best-before information and any additional storage or preparation directions.

Product Guidance

Chi Xiao Dou are dried beans intended for thorough cooking before serving.

Do not consume the dried beans without appropriate cooking.

Follow the preparation directions provided on the packaging or an appropriate recipe.

If you have food allergies, dietary concerns or questions about whether the ingredient is appropriate for you, review the final product label and consult an appropriate qualified professional when necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chi Xiao Dou?

Chi Xiao Dou / 赤小豆 is a small red bean ingredient traditionally used in Chinese cooked preparations such as soups, congee, grain porridges and appropriate sweet bean recipes.

What does Chi Xiao Dou mean?

Chi / 赤 means red, Xiao / 小 means small and Dou / 豆 means bean.

Together, Chi Xiao Dou / 赤小豆 means Small Red Bean.

How much is included?

Each package contains 400 g / 14.11 oz of whole dried Chi Xiao Dou.

Are these whole beans?

Yes. They are presented as whole dried beans.

What do Chi Xiao Dou taste like?

They generally have a mild, earthy, mellow and subtly sweet bean character.

What texture do they have when cooked?

When properly cooked, Chi Xiao Dou develop a tender, creamy texture.

Do Chi Xiao Dou need to be cooked?

Yes.

They should be thoroughly cooked before serving according to the package directions or an appropriate recipe.

Do they need to be soaked?

Not necessarily.

Soaking requirements vary, so follow the directions supplied with the product or recipe.

Can Chi Xiao Dou be used for congee?

Yes. They can be incorporated into suitable rice or mixed-grain congee recipes.

Can Chi Xiao Dou be used in soup?

Yes. Small red beans can be incorporated into appropriate soup preparations.

Can Chi Xiao Dou be used in sweet recipes?

Yes. Their subtle sweetness makes them suitable for appropriate sweet bean, porridge and grain preparations.

Can Chi Xiao Dou be cooked with Coix Seeds?

Yes, in an appropriate recipe.

Because beans and Coix kernels may have different cooking requirements, follow preparation guidance suitable for both ingredients.

Are Chi Xiao Dou the same as Adzuki Beans?

They should not automatically be assumed to be identical.

This product is specifically identified as Chi Xiao Dou / 赤小豆. More specific identification should be based on supplier or packaging information.

Are Chi Xiao Dou Red Kidney Beans?

No.

Chi Xiao Dou are much smaller and more slender than conventional Red Kidney Beans.

Is this a tea ingredient?

No.

This is primarily a dried bean and cooking ingredient and should be thoroughly cooked before serving.

Who are Small Red Beans best for?

They are especially suited to home cooks, bean and legume enthusiasts, congee lovers and people exploring traditional Chinese grains, beans and savoury-to-sweet cooking.

Bring a Comforting Red Bean Tradition Home

Deep red beans. Tender, creamy cooked texture. From savoury congee to comforting sweet bean dishes.

Cook Chi Xiao Dou thoroughly and explore them in soup, add them to rice or mixed-grain congee, combine them with Coix Seeds or black rice, or discover their subtle sweetness in an appropriate traditional-inspired recipe.

Add Small Red Beans (Chi Xiao Dou) — 400 g to your pantry and bring a versatile traditional red bean into everyday cooking.

Bring Eastern Living Home.