The market for seaweed as human food originated in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, etc.) and probably did so for functional reasons. There are high population levels in Southeast Asia and ocean fishing is a necessary food source. If a net is pulled or dragged near the shore, it tends to catch algae and fish. Ocean Marine life hides among algae and other aquatic plants (algae is another term for aquatic plants), predatory fish hunt there, and many fish and marine mammals eat it. Seaweed is the most commonly used term for ocean aquatic plants that are harvested intentionally, accidentally, or when they hit shore.

The algae must be harvested and prepared fresh to be fit for human consumption. The consumer must offer or request some description and guarantee that the harvest was carried out in uncontaminated water. If you are not a relatively poor resident of overcrowded Southeast Asia, why would you eat seaweed? Because you can. British chefs have been especially criticized for having advanced the use of seaweed in luxury cooking. “Crispy Duck and Seaweed” is one of those dishes.

What about the nutritional value of seaweed? You can search for it on the web. Be skeptical when the website is framed with ads for seaweed products. Expect to see attributes such as high fiber content, various vitamins and minerals that provide a small percentage of daily human requirements in a single serving, antioxidants, flavonoids, carotenoids, low calories, and qualities to help you manage heart disease, type 2 diabetes. and Low cholesterol. The news is not entirely good: the algae may be high in iodine and may have absorbed heavy metals (cadmium, mercury, lead, aluminum).

How does algae smell? I saved the best for last. It smells good if prepared and consumed quickly after being harvested fresh from clean ocean water. As it decomposes, the algae smell like rotten eggs. That’s why you won’t find raw seaweed in a grocery aisle lodged alongside cabbages and lettuces. This is also why I titled this article “Fried Seaweed Chips”. People of Western civilization, as a group, tend to shy away from foods that are unfamiliar, dark in appearance, somewhat slimy, and if the smell triggers the gag reflex. But if you’re offering that same fried, salty, potato chip food, pass the bag! If you like French fries, maybe you can find a local restaurant that serves fresh seaweed. “Oh, and can I get ‘Crispy Duck’ with that?”

Jesus ate fish, but the Christian Bible does not mention the consumption of seaweed. Having been born into the Jewish community, he probably followed the ancient Hebrew dietary guide, which forbade eating shellfish, pork, or any animal that ate dead things. As Jesus walked the earth as a human being, his journey was within the confines of Judea and Galilee. His ministry only lasted about three years, and most of all, he taught his chosen disciples about God and what God wants humans to do. Jesus powerfully demonstrated to them that he was the Son of God. Through the surviving disciples, the Christian ministry developed, and yes, today you will find Christians in Southeast Asia praying to Father God before enjoying a meal of freshly harvested seaweed and fish.