Khai, Kaipen
Cladophora sp
Family: Cladophoraceae
What it is like
A freshwater algae.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in the stagnant waters of the Mekong in Laos.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Indochina, Laos, SE Asia
How it is used for food
The fresh algae is added to soups and stews for flavour. It is also dried and pressed into sheets along with finely sliced vegetables and sprinkled with sesame seeds. The dried product is grilled or briefly deep fried.
It is sold in local markets.
Edible parts
Algae