Since the beginning of 19th century, Irish Moss was used in Ireland as a folk remedy for respiratory ailments. In the mid-19th century, it was exported to New England by famine emigrees. It is still collected in the Ireland in small amounts for the health drink and cooking.
| Name | Irish moss |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chondrus crispus |
| Common/English Name | Irish moss, Carrageen moss, Carragheen, Carrageen |
| Name in Other Languages | French: Mousse d’Irlande, German: Irisch Moos, Breton: Bejin Gwenn, Dutch: Iers mos, Finnish: Punalevä-laji French: Goemon blanc, Gaeilge: Cruibín chait, German: Irischmoos, Italian: Muschio Irlandese Portuguese: Musgo-gordo, Spanish: Condrus Swedish: Karragener |
| Habitat | On rocks, pools, lower intertidal, shallow subtidal |
| Frond Shape and Size | Fan shape; Height: 150 mm, Breadth: 2-15mm; Length: 2 or 3-10 or 12 inches |
| Frond color | Cartilaginous, dark purplish, red, yellowish or greenish |
| Branches | Four or five times in a dichotomous, fan like |
| Branches shape and size | 2–15 mm broad |
| Branches color | Firm texture, dark reddish brown that bleaches to yellowish in the sunlight |
| Stipe | Compressed, narrow, flat |
| Axils | Rounded, apices blunt or subacute |
| Taste | Mucilaginous |
| Major Nutritions | Iron, Fe 0.89 mg (11.13%) Vitamin B9 (Folate) 18 µg (4.50%) Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 0.047 mg (3.62%) Magnesium, Mg 14 mg (3.33%) Phosphorus, P 16 mg (2.29%) Zinc, Zn 0.2 mg (1.82%) Copper, Cu 0.015 mg (1.67%) Manganese, Mn 0.037 mg (1.61%) Carbohydrate 1.23 g (0.95%) Calcium, Ca 7 mg (0.70%) |
| Health Benefits |
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| Calories in 2 tbsp (1/8) cup, 10 g | 5 Kcal. |