What is seaweed?
Seaweed (chondrus crispus) is a seaweed or algae that has been present in the Earth’s oceans for 500 million years. They come in a variety of colors (e.g., white, yellow, red, brown, purple, and green) and their thin stems extend into tiny branches, giving them the appearance of small, translucent, leafless trees floating on the surface of the ocean. It grows over large areas of land from shallow to deep water, mainly near the rocky ribbed shores of the Atlantic, Pacific and Caribbean seas.
Although archaeologists have found evidence that this marine plant has been harvested by humans for nearly 14,000 years, it did not begin to regain popularity until the early 2020s. As with most current trends, you can thank social media celebrities like Kim Kardashian and TikTok influencers for this.
How does seaweed taste?
Many people believe that because seaweed comes from the ocean, it can have a strong salty or fishy flavor. However, this is not entirely accurate. When cleaned and prepared properly, it actually has a very mild, clean flavor that may vary slightly depending on the region where it was harvested. It also does not have any strong odor and has a soft, gelatinous texture, similar to applesauce or mashed jelly.
Seaweed can be eaten raw, but because of its neutral flavor, it also mixes well with any ingredients it is mixed with.
