Purple Irish Sea Moss (Chondrus), Powder, Dried
Purple Irish Sea Moss (Chondrus), Powder, Dried
Common Names: Irish moss, Sea Moss, Purple Irish Moss
Scientific Name: Chondrus crispus
Locations: lower intertidal and in tide pools, sometimes washed up on beaches after storms. Irish moss is a perennial seaweed that grows on a narrow band of rocks at the low, low tide mark.
Seasonality: We have a good supply on hand at present and are harvesting during the winter as we can.
We harvest and dry 80% of our annual inventory during the months of April - October, so you can expect some very tender and fresh early spring sea moss fronds - right off the rocks / beds here in our bay. All our Chondrus crispus is hard harvested by local pickers. We wash this ‘wild-crafted’ seaweed in cold Atlantic sea water before spreading it out in our greenhouse to dry.
At present we are scaling up our network of local fishermen and harvesters to grow our annual supply while also preserving healthy Irish Moss growth and sustainable harvests into the future! :)
Colors: dark red, maroon, wine colored; black when dried
Size: range from 2" - 4" long fronds
Collected: by hand, cut off the rocks
Quantity: 1 lb. dried for human consumption. Deep red and black color when dried
Grind mesh: .015 mesh screen / hammermill
Please call Tim or Amy if you have any questions.
Frond of Irish moss in the sunlight.
Tidepool Tim says, “Irish moss is one of the most celebrated seaweeds of all time. Widely known for its ability to be used in products for human consumption, especially for its carrageenan producing abilities. It works well as a thickening agent in products like ice cream, shampoos, and other foods. Irish Moss is becoming especially popular lately as a nutrient dense addition to a healthy diet, however moss has been harvested for centuries all along European shores, in the U.K., in the Canadian maritime provinces, and down along the coasts of New England. Moss fronds are commonly coated with various species of bryozoans and the clumps themselves are home to periwinkle snails, isopods, and even worms.”
