H O W T O S E L E C T B E S T S E A W E E D
Selection by Period of Harvest
Seaweed is harvested from the last 10 days of October to early May the following year.
Seaweed harvested during the winter is of the best quality.
Below is a guide to choosing the best of the winter harvest seaweed.
November
As it is the first harvest of the year, the seaweed is soft and pulpy and has an unpleasant odor; the quality isn’t the best.
December – March
This is the prime time to harvest seaweed. Seaweed in this period is blackish, glossy, thin but sturdy, all of which are features of the best quality seaweed. Its taste is more rich and savory than seaweed collected in autumn or spring.
April – May
This is the last seaweed harvesting period of the year. Due to the warmer water temperatures during this period, the quality of the seaweed falls.
What is the "best seaweed"
- less blemishes
- more blackish and glossy
- less light green seaweed
- no empty spaces or bumps on the surface and turns dark green when roasted
Species of Seaweed
Porphyra Tenera Kjellman and Porphyra Yezoensis Ueda are the two major seaweeds that are cultivated;“Rock” Sweet Seaweed grows on rocks and is frequently hit by waves from the open sea. Round “Rock” Sweet Seaweed spreads across the east, west and south coasts and is round in shape. However some of them have many wrinkles and look like a peony blossom.
Porphyra Pseudolinearis Ueda inhabit in the east coast and Wakame in the west coast; both are long oval-shaped.Rhombus-patterned “Rock” sweet seaweed is found in the south coast. About 50 species of seaweed in total grows around the world; 10 of which are found in the south coast of Korea .
Porphyra Tenera Kjellman
Shape : : It looks like a bamboo blade in its infancy, but takes various shapes like an oval or egg once matured. It has many wrinkles on the edges.
Color : Magenta, brownish red, blackish red, etc
Size : (Length) 15 – 25 cm, (Width) 7 to 12 cm
Habitat : River mouths with fast rive current
Cultivation Period : September – April
Porphyra Tenera Kjellman in the form of Tamatsuensis Miura
An altered form of Porphyra tenera Kjellman cultivated by sea farmers in Ehime Prefecture, Japan since 1962.
Color : Magenta, brownish red, blackish red, etc
Size : (Length) 15 – 25 cm, (Width) 7 to 12 cm
Porphyra Yezoensis Ueda
When immature, the seaweed is reversed-flower-leaves. When mature, it becomes oval-shaped with the base being wider than the upper portion.
Color : Light purple
Size : (Length) 10 – 20 cm, (Width) 3 to 10 cm
Habitat : Toward the open sea from river mouth with high salinity water.
Porphyra Yezoensis Ueda in the form of Narawaensiss Miura
Cultivated by sea farmers in Chiba Prefacture, Japan since 1966
Color : Reddish purple
Size : (Length) 30 cm
“Rock” Sweet Seaweed
It is a general term for seaweed naturally growing on underwater rocks in the open sea. Among them, Porphyra Pseudolinearis Ueda is the proper species to cultivate.
Shape : Long bamboo blade
Size : (Length) 10 – 30 cm, (Width) 2 – 45 cm, (Thickness) 30 – 56 ㎛
Habitat : In front or outside of gulfs which with fast currents and heavy waves
Green Seaweed
In Korea, there are several species of green seaweed such as celadon green seaweed, flat green seaweed, leaf green seaweed, thorn green seaweed, and latticed green seaweed. The monotropa genus is often included as well.
These species of green seaweed grow well in areas where fresh water flows, and grow in large numbers in calm tide pools. While the period of growth varies by species, they usually grow from late autumn to early summer. They can easily be embedded into seaweed beds so that they are market-dominant products. Rich in scent and unique in taste, green seaweed is among the most popular seaweed plants consumed in Korea and Japan.
Other Seaweeds
There are other seaweeds as follows