Cultivated in the Naruto Strait between the Shikoku and Awaji Islands. Powerful tidal currents and whirlpools between the Inland Japan Sea and the Pacific Ocean create exceptional characteristics. Naruto wakame is renowned for its rich flavor, beautiful green color, thickness, and crisp yet soft texture. This wakame is hand harvested by farmers from February to April, taken ashore, and sun-dried. To make EDEN Instant Wakame Flakes, dry wakame is washed and then simmered in salt water for about thirty seconds to replicate the method used for centuries of washing it in sea water. This turns the wakame from brown to green. After simmering it is washed in ice water removing the salt. The leaves are trimmed to remove its tough main rib, and the rough leaf tips. Instant Wakame Flakes are quickly restored to tenderness by soaking for 2 to 3 minutes for marinated dishes, casseroles and salads. For soups, broth, and stews no soaking is necessary, simply place it in the cooking water. Low in sodium. They contain no fat or calories. Wakame is a source of iodine and was traditionallly an important food for the prevention of goiter. Like kombu and other brown algae sea vegetables wakame contains a sweet amino acid that is a flavor enhancer and softening agent when cooked with other foods, glutamine. Pure and natural. Unlike many wakame producers, we do not use artificial methods of cultivation, harvesting, or softening agents such as enzymes or monosodium glutamate. EDEN Instant Wakame Flakes are of the finest quality and uniformity of size. They hold their shape and texture well when soaked or cooked without becoming slippery or dissolving.