Irish moss
| Irish moss |
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| Scientific Classification |
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| Binomial Name |
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Chondrus crispus |
Irish moss is a species of red algae given the scientific name Chondrus crispus. It can found in North America, Atlantic coasts, and Europe. It is about 20 cm long and its original color is greenish and yellow to red or a purplish-brown color.
It's about 10 percent protein and 15 percent minerals, and used in a variety of foods or their production, such as flavored drinks. When boiled it will turn into a jelly-like-form being more than 20 times the weight of water, an attribute that is used to help stabilize and thicken dairy products like ice cream. The moss is also used in beer manufacturing to attract proteins and solids, then removed after it is finished.[1]
Anatomy
It might be called an Irish moss but this is not a moss at all, it is a perennial plant. The moss is three to ten inches high with little branch sticking out. There are many colors for this moss some are greenish-purple, purple-brownish, and grayish-purple. The appearance has a very waxy look. When you boil the Irish moss it will turn very hard and brittle, and turn into a seaweed structure. [2]
Back in Ireland the men would submerged the rocks on the coastlines where the Irish moss was, and rake the stems out from the rocks. After gathering all the moss they laid out the Irish moss in sunlight for it to dry for two weeks. Then when it hardens, they boil it and the moss will turn into a seaweed and dissolve in the boiling water. After it is done they will cool it and the seaweed will turn into a jelly type structure. The jelly is sold for medical and food items, like to make stews and soups for thickening of it. Also used to boil along with milk for tasty white pudding. [3]
Chondrus crispis is the original name for the plant Irish moss. It is about 20 cm long and branches everywhere like a fan-like structure. The branches are about 2-15 mm wide, and the color is reddish- brown and will turn to a yellowish color when exposed to the sun. [4]
Reproduction
The Irish moss has plenty of polysaccharides, amino acids, proteins, and bromine. The reason moss turns into jelly when it is soaked in water is because of polysaccharides. When the men gather the moss and boil it, it cools it and turns into jelly, then sold for food products and medicinal items.[5]
You can find Irish mosses in the coast of Massachusetts, the moss spreads in the higher parts of the beaches and is exposed to the sun and will turn yellowish. Its important use is in medicine even though it does not have many properties for a medicine. But the mucilage that it has causes irritation of mucous membranes, which is like sore throat, and pulmonary complaints. Sometimes it's also used to help kidney troubles and pneumonia. Also the jelly is help to prepare soup, and blancmange. It is rare but it is sometimes combined with chocolate or cocoa, lemon juice, etc. Just to improve the taste and flavoring of the product. [6]
Ecology
The Irish moss mainly attaches to rocks, boulders, and pebbles for mechanical support. The moss absorbs its nutrients from seawater, the Irish moss is mostly collected along the coast of Massachusetts high on the beach with the sun shining on it to absorb the yellowish color.[7]
In the 19th century in Ireland most of the people were poor so they would eat seaweed as food which is originally a Irish moss. They would eat it as there meals whenever they had hard times surviving. The Irish moss seaweed was a medicine for the native people in Ireland to treat sore throats and chapped skins in the winter. Irish moss is used to commercial for other food products. You can find the Irish moss on the North Atlantic Ocean that is next to Europe and the North American continent. It can be found growing on rocks and stones that is in the waterline at the coastal regions. The moss is brought to north America in the summer, but is originally made from Ireland during fall. It saved thousands of Irish from starvation and illnesses. The Irish moss was a big part of there lives in the 19th century.[8]
Chondrus Cripus (Irish Moss) can be found in the shores of Great Britain and Ireland. You can also spot it in the coast of Europe in Iceland, Faroe Islands, Baltic sea, and the south part of Spain. Other coasts that the moss can be found in is Atlantic coasts of Canada, California, and Japan.[9]
Uses in Food Products
The Irish moss can be used as a stabilizer or thickener for milk products like ice cream and dairy products. Also the moss is used for beverages in the caribbean to make special drinks. The drink is made by boiling the Irish moss first then you can add your own flavoring of vanilla, and strawberry. Then condensed milk is poured into the drink and spices like rum. The drink should be served chilled. Irish moss is also used while making beer to attract the solids and proteins in it. But then it is removed after the finishing process of making the beer.[10]
References
- Chondrus Crispus Multiple Authors. Multiple Publishers. 2009.
- Irish moss plant Multiple Authors. Multiple Publishers. 2004-2009
- Irish moss Multiple Authors. Multiple Publishers. 2002-2009
