Japanese isinglass
Gelidium amansii
Family: Gelidiaceae
What it is like
A seaweed. It is red and keeps growing from year to year. It forms tufts. The fronds are branched and rigid. The fronds have thread-like segments.
There are about 20 Gelidium species. It is claimed to prevent obesity.
Where it is found
A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in the intertidal zone. It occurs along Pacific coasts.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Russia, SE Asia
How it is used for food
It is processed by boiling and drying and used to make quick setting agar and jelly. It is available in bundled strips, cakes or as powder. It can be eaten with soy sauce and vinegar. It is used for making noodles.
Edible parts
Seaweed, algae, frond
How it is grown
It is grown from spores that spread naturally.
Its other names
Local names
Agar-agar, Shie-hua-ts'ai, Tengusa