Sea Vegetable

Sea Moss (has a safety note)

BotanicalChondrus crispusAlso calledIrish moss, Carrageen moss, Carrageen

A frilly red-purple Atlantic seaweed that soaks and blends into a silky gel for smoothies, soups and puddings. Use it in food amounts only.

* Safety note: Naturally high and variable in iodine; read the cautions if you have a thyroid condition. Read the cautions

Sea Moss, whole dried seaweed

Dried sea moss looks like a tangle of pale, crinkled ribbons that smell of the shore. Soaked overnight it swells and softens, and blended with fresh water it turns into a smooth, almost flavorless gel. In Ireland it has long been simmered into milk puddings and warm drinks, and in the Caribbean it is the base of a creamy spiced sea moss drink.

The name 'sea moss' is used loosely. True Irish moss is Chondrus crispus, a cold-water North Atlantic seaweed, but much of what is sold as sea moss is a different red seaweed, often Gracilaria or Eucheuma species from warmer waters. Their iodine and mineral content can be very different. Sea moss is not part of classical Ayurveda, and we found no reliable Ayurvedic profile for it; its plain taste is mildly salty and oceanic.

Ayurvedic Properties

Not described in classical Ayurveda, and we have not found a reliable modern Ayurvedic profile, so most of its energetics are shown as unknown.

RasaTastes
  • Salty
ViryaHeating or cooling
Not known
VipakaPost-digestive effect
Not known
AgniEffect on digestion
Heavy, can dampen agni

Heavy and gel-like, it can slow a weak appetite if taken in large amounts.

GunaQualities
Not known
TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
  • Vata: not known
  • Pitta: not known
  • Kapha: not known
  • decreases (calms that dosha)
  • increases (can aggravate it)
  • neutral or balancing
  • not known
  • V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha

Sea moss has no established Ayurvedic profile, so we do not rate it. Its heavy, gel-like texture suggests going lightly if your digestion is slow, and enjoying it warm and spiced in cool weather.

Traditional Uses

  • Traditionally used to support a soothed, comfortable throat, simmered into warm milky drinks in Irish homes.
  • Traditionally used to support mineral nourishment as a sea vegetable.
  • Traditionally used to support body and texture in puddings, soups and drinks as a natural thickener.

How People Use It

  • FoodRinse the dried sea moss well, then soak it in cool water for 12 to 24 hours. Blend the softened sea moss with fresh water until smooth and keep the gel in the fridge for up to a week. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of gel to a smoothie, soup or pudding a few times a week, not in large daily amounts.
  • MilkFor a traditional carrageen drink, simmer a small rinsed handful in milk with a cinnamon stick until it thickens slightly, then strain.
Try This

Warm Carrageen Milk with Cinnamon

An old Irish comfort drink, spiced for a cool evening.

  • 1 tablespoon dried sea moss, well rinsed
  • 2 cups milk or oat milk
  • 1 small cinnamon stick
  • 2 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
  • A little honey once it has cooled slightly
  1. Soak the rinsed sea moss in cool water for 15 minutes, then drain.
  2. Put it in a small pan with the milk, cinnamon and cardamom and bring slowly to a gentle simmer.
  3. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring now and then, until the milk thickens a little.
  4. Strain into a mug, let it cool slightly and stir in a little honey. Enjoy it now and then, not every day.

Pairs Well With

Cautions

  • Sea moss is naturally high in iodine, and the amount varies a great deal between batches and species. Too much iodine can cause thyroid problems, including goiter and thyroid inflammation. The upper limit for adults from all sources is 1,100 mcg of iodine a day.
  • If you have a thyroid condition, or take thyroid hormone or antithyroid medicine such as methimazole, talk with your doctor before eating sea moss regularly.
  • During pregnancy and breastfeeding, iodine needs are higher but too much is also a concern. Check with your doctor or midwife before using sea moss regularly.
  • Seaweeds can take up heavy metals such as arsenic, lead and mercury from the water they grow in. Buy from a supplier that tests its products and keep to food-sized amounts.
  • Products sold as 'sea moss' may be Chondrus crispus or other red seaweeds such as Gracilaria or Eucheuma species, and their iodine and mineral content can differ a great deal from batch to batch.
  • Please consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor before using sea moss as a regular supplement.

In Our Shop

Organic Sea Moss

Organic Sea Moss, from $6.50. Weighed and packed by hand at our Rockville Centre studio.

Shop Sea Moss →

Sources and Further Reading

This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.