Sea moss, also known as Irish sea moss, is edible moss that grows on the Atlantic coasts of the Caribbean, Europe, and North America. The most popular types of sea moss are Genus gracilaria, Chondrus crispusand Eucheuma Cottonii.
So how should sea moss taste? What should the gel taste like? What tastes should worry you?
Read on to find out more about how sea moss should taste.
What Should Sea Moss Taste Like?
Sea moss taste salty when eaten raw. This sea moss taste is because the edible sea plant can take on the salty flavour of the ocean as it grows.
If you like seafood, then you will love sea moss. Sea moss taste is an earthy taste, like oysters, seaweeds, and clams. However, if you don't like seafood, you will have difficulties trying to eat raw sea moss.
Sea moss quickly takes on flavours. Just like it takes on the salty flavour of the ocean, it can take on any range of flavours you want. Therefore, if you don't like its flavour when eaten raw, you can customize the moss flavours by adding other flavours like vanilla, pineapple, banana, and many more.
Does Sea Moss Gel Taste Fishy?
Irish sea moss gel, also known as carrageenan gum, has a shorter shelf life, unlike other sea moss supplements. The gel shelf life usually is 3 to 4 weeks when stored in a tight lid container adequately handled and refrigerated.
If you bought the carrageenan gum in a health store or from an online vendor, it is best to check the expiry date to ensure that you consume it within the period; it is expected to be fresh. If the gel is homemade, chances are you did not add perspectives to prevent bacteria from decaying it. In this case, the gel develops a darker colour than before, indicating it has gone wrong.
Fresh carrageenan gum should not have a strong taste. Therefore you can use the gel taste as a definite way to determine if the gel is still good or has already gone bad.
To determine the gel's taste, you should add lemon to your tablespoon of the gel. At first, the gel will taste like a lemon since it has just been applied topically. However, if the after-taste of the gel is overly fishy, this indicates that the gel is terrible and not fit for your consumption.
Fishy Smell or Fishy Taste?
It is important to note that the seaweed gel has a fishy smell that shouldn't be confused with a fishy taste. If you use the gel for the first time, you may notice a slight ocean smell.
This smell shouldn't deter you from using the gel as it is tasteless, and consuming it is undoubtedly good for you. However, if you can't wholly stand the smell, next time you make the gel, you should consider washing the Irish sea moss and soaking the seaweed overnight.
After soaking the Irish moss, you should rinse it well. Take the rinsed sea moss and then boil it. Finally, blend the boiled sea moss. This procedure will give the gel a mild smell and make it easy for you to use.
You might wonder, does boiling sea moss kill its nutrients? The short answer is yes, but some prefer boiling the Irish moss to make it softer.
Does Sea Moss Gel Taste Salty?
Irish sea moss grows in the inlets and tide pools of the salty waters of the Atlantic ocean. Therefore, sea moss is expected to be harvested with a thin layer of salt.
Carrageenan gum made directly from harvested raw sea moss will most likely be salty. However, the gel doesn't have to be salty, and washing sea moss carefully will eliminate the salty taste before the gel is made.
Irish sea moss is cleaned by placing the sea moss in a basin of water. After placing the sea moss in the basin, wash it by gently massaging it. The massaging process ensures that the sea moss is thoroughly cleaned and has gotten rid of salt crystals at the surface and any other waste that might be trapped in the sea moss.
After washing the moss, you can soak it in water for 24 to 48 hours. During this process, the sea moss absorbs water and expands almost three times its original state. This soaking process typically assures you that all the salty taste in the sea moss is gone.
After the soaking, place your moss in a blender and add water to make a salty-free gel. This gel will be tasteless, which is the typical taste for plain gel.
Ps: You can always add your desired flavours to the gel.
How Does Real Sea Moss Taste like Vs Fake Sea Moss?
Natural Irish sea moss is slightly salty from the natural ocean environment where it grows. Thoroughly washing the sea moss removes the salty taste, and gel made with the washed sea moss doesn't have a salty taste.
How Does Fake Sea Moss Gel Taste Like?
Fake Irish sea moss refers to Irish sea moss that is cultivated by farmers in controlled environments such as pools.
Fake Irish sea moss tastes very salty. The saltiness is because synthetic salt is added to pools where sea moss is grown in an attempt to replicate the natural ocean environment where the real sea moss grows. Sea Moss gel made from fake sea moss will always taste salty even when appropriately washed.
Distinguishing between the two types of moss is crucial because it has implications for the nutritional value that you get. Gel made from natural moss is nutritious and offers a wide range of benefits compared to fake sea moss gel, which is less nutritious.
Closing
Irish Sea moss gel is rich in vitamins and minerals, giving it many health benefits. In addition, when prepared the right way, the gel is tasteless, making it an excellent thickening agent to incorporate into our meals.
If you don't like its bland flavour, you can always add a wide range of flavours to suit your liking and preferences.
If you are looking for a way to supplement your daily diet, then sea moss gel is something you should consider.
