The coasts of northern Scotland are among the most current-swept regions in Europe. The Pentland Firth, the strait between the Scottish mainland and the Orkney Islands, is known for its powerful tidal streams. These conditions create an environment in which an unusual variety of seaweed grows.
Seaweed has been part of the diet along the British, Scandinavian and Irish coasts for centuries. Many families used it not only in the kitchen but as dried stores for the winter. The species differ markedly in colour, texture and taste – from mild to strong, from tender to firm.
The five species at a glance
- Sea spaghetti: a long, ribbon-shaped brown alga with a mild taste and firm texture.
- Atlantic wakame: a cold-water relative of the Asian wakame species.
- Dulse: a reddish-purple alga with a soft structure, used in Ireland for generations.
- Bladderwrack: one of the best known North Atlantic brown algae, found on rocky shores.
- Spiral wrack: a spirally growing wrack with a robust texture.
All five are together in the Rosita 5-algae blend – milled and encapsulated, for anyone who would rather not have the taste of seaweed on the plate every day.
Sustainable harvesting
The seaweed is harvested by hand by experienced coastal residents. Only part of the plant is cut, so that it can regenerate naturally. This protects the ecosystem and follows a long tradition along the North Atlantic coasts.
Gentle processing
After harvesting the seaweed is cleaned and air-dried at low temperatures. This traditional drying preserves the plants' natural properties and yields an aromatic, keepable dried product.
Versatile in the kitchen
In Scotland, Ireland and Iceland seaweed is used widely: as a seasoning, in soups, as part of vegetable dishes or finely chopped into bread dough. Each of the five brings its own nuances – dulse, for instance, develops a smoky aroma when toasted.
A word on iodine
Seaweeds contain iodine, in widely varying amounts – brown algae such as bladderwrack and spiral wrack considerably more than red algae. So stick to the stated daily intake, and speak to your doctor first if you have a thyroid condition or take thyroid medication. There is more on this in Sea moss: what Irish moss is.
The other algae in the range
Alongside the North Atlantic blend we carry sea moss, spirulina, chlorella and the blue spirulina extract powder. It is all listed together under Algae.
