WILD NORTH ATLANTIC KOMBU: A well balanced brown seaweed, that we’re very excited to offer in whole leaf or flakes form. Also known as Sugared Kelp, it has a slightly sweeter taste and tender texture. Kombu is an excellent source of trace elements, iodine, protein, vitamins A, C, E, K, B complex, potassium, magnesium, iron, sodium, chromium, phosphorus, alginate, and carotene. SWEET & SALTY FLAVOR: Kombu seaweed has a chewy texture and a mild, slightly sweet and salty taste with a hint of umami. Dried Kombu has the most concentrated flavor. Once cooked, the texture becomes softer, more tender, and the flavor is milder, adding the perfect amount of salty, seaweedy flavor to soups, stews, or any dish that needs a nutritious flavor boost. FROM THE SEA TO YOUR PLATE: Experience the most nutrient dense ingredient that gives a flavor packed twist to any meal. Enjoy Kombu whole leaf straight from the bag as a crunchy snack or use as a base for soups, stocks, and broths. It’s perfect for fermenting vegetables, such as kimchi and sauerkraut. Sprinkle flakes over your favorite salads, stir-frys, or fish dishes. UNIQUE HEALTH BENEFITS: Seaweed is low in fat, cholesterol free, packed with macronutrients, and rich in iodine, a critical nutrient for maintaining a healthy thyroid that is not found in many other foods. Known as a superfood, brown seaweed is an amazing source of antioxidants and a popular addition to those following a vegan, vegetarian, kosher, or raw diet. SUSTAINABLY HARVESTED: Here at Vitamin Sea, we sustainably harvest our seaweed by hand from the cold pristine waters off the coast of Maine. We make sure that our harvesting methods are environmentally friendly, protect the seaweed and maintain it at optimal freshness. *This is a wild harvested product. We cannot guarantee the wild harvested seaweed is free from small shells or pebbles. For a plant with such a humble name and origin, seaweed boasts an abundant storehouse of healthful nutrients. Other than needing some sunlight, seaweeds are self-sufficient in their environment; they can absorb everything they need to sustain life directly from the seawater that surrounds them. Scientists know there is a secret to life in the sea, although they have never been able to identify this mysterious component. However, the earth's oceans not only make up nearly 70 percent of the planet's surface, they also absorb 70 percent of the sun's energy! And much of the solar (radiant) energy is absorbed by seaweeds. That's an amazing expanse of potential energy to be investigated as a vital source of nutrients!