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Sugar kelp

Large quantities of kombu

For the last 1500 years, the chinese have eaten different specie of kelp. It is often served with pork and soja. It is cheap and also a good substitute for fresh vegetables at a time of the year when they are scarce. In China and Japan dried kelp, also known as kombu, is consumed. The kelp is often harvested on the beach, but since the 1940īs, it has been cultivated from special rafts. Annually, about 700 000 ton is harvested, which results in about 100 000 ton of kombu.
   In Europe kelp was previously collected on beaches and layed directly on the fields as fertilizer. It has also been used as cow, horse and sheep feed.
   During the 17th centuary, kelp was dried and burnt, thereafter the ash was used in the production of glass, but of bad quality. The ash has also been used as glazing in the production of ceramics.

Cured goitre

In the early 19th centuary, it was discovered that dried and burnt kelp contained a basic element - iodine. In one ton of ash it was possible to extract up to 15 kg iodine. At that time goitre was a dangerous illness and iodine was used to cure it. Years later, an ore was discovered that contained iodine and the use of kelp ash declined and disappeared.
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Two types
Grows duing the winter
Pesticide
Blown asunder
Swaying forest
Animal protection
Three specie of kelp
Lots of kombu
Cured goitre
Used in ice cream

Sugar kelp     More facts     Other names

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Bo Johannesson | Martin Larsvik | Lars-Ove Loo | Helena Samuelsson