A Quick Guide To Different Types of Edible Seaweed

If you didn’t know there was more than one kind of seaweed, it’s OK to admit it. But as adventurous eaters discover these delights from the depths of the ocean, they’re spreading the word. Seaweed is healthy for you and healthy for the planet—it’s also downright yummy. Learn about some different types of edible seaweed that make for the best snacking with this quick guide.

Wakame

You’ve probably already eaten wakame, even without knowing it. The flavor is soft and sweet, making it one of the most popular utility players in the world of seaweed. You’ll find it in miso soup and seaweed salad, and even in some chocolate cake recipes. In Japanese, “wakame” means “young girl,” a reference to the graceful way wakame moves in the ocean, as well as its silky texture.

Health Benefits

Wakame boasts fiber, iodine, iron, calcium, potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin B6.

Kombu

It may seem odd to describe seaweed as floral or fruity, but kombu has natural sugars that can amplify the flavors of other foods. It’s a kind of edible kelp that’s one of the main ingredients in the Japanese soup stock dashi. In flake form, you’ll love it as a salad topping or garnish for seafood. People often use it as a seasoning for sushi rice, if you’re interested in learning to roll your own.

Health Benefits

Eating kombu will boost your levels of iodine, calcium, and fiber.

Dulse

We saved the trendiest for last. You’ve heard of “chicken of the sea.” Well, meet “bacon of the sea.” You can eat whole leaf dulse straight out of the bag as an alternative to beef jerky with a similar chewy texture and surprisingly meaty flavor. It’s a hearty addition to stews, and it’s a suitable bacon substitute on top of salads. Will it replace kale as the “it” vegetable of the decade? Stay tuned.

Health Benefits

Hello, protein! Dulse is also a great source of iodine, iron, potassium, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12.

There are other kinds of seaweed and kelp, too, but these three will give you an idea of how dramatically they can vary in taste and usage. After reading this quick guide to some of the different types of edible seaweed, you might want to try them as sprinkle seasonings, flakes, or whole leaves. You can buy seaweed online from Ocean’s Balance—we farm and harvest it sustainably in the pristine waters of the Gulf of Maine, and we’re a company that’s truly trying to make a difference. Learn more about us and our products by browsing our website.