Carragheen, Irish Moss, Jelly moss, Sea moss
Chondrus crispus

Family: Gigartinaceae

What it is like

A red seaweed. It is 7-15 cm long and spreads 7-15 cm wide. It is red-purple to green. It has a disk shaped holdfast. It is narrow at the base and expands into branched fronds. These are often crimped along the edge.

There are about 15 Chondrus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows most commonly around Atlantic shores.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Alaska, America, Angola, Antarctic, Atlantic, Britain, Canada, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Denmark, Europe, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Iceland, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Netherlands, North America, North Sea, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Scandinavia, Spain, Sweden, USA, West Africa

How it is used for food

It is a major source of carrageenan, a gum used for gelling and thickening and emulsifying foods. It is bleached and dried before use. It is used as a food and as an emulsifying and jelling agent for ice cream, cream cheese, yogurt, salad dressing, and gravies. It is used for thickening in soups and chowders.

It is available in whole food shops. It is an important edible seaweed.

Edible parts

Seaweed, frond, algae

How it is grown

Plants are left intact along shores after harvesting to allow them to regrow.

Its other names

Local names

Bejin gwenn, Pearl moss, Pioca

Synonyms

There are many synonyms