the truth about sea moss
Here we will explore the truth behind Sea Moss and Irish Sea Moss. The pictures above show examples of three different kinds of Sea Moss, with one of these pictures not being wildcrafted sea moss but cultivated (farmed) and one being pool grown. First, let’s get some technical terms out of the way.
So, what exactly is sea moss?
Sea Moss is a generic name given to a collection of different species of seaweed. Some say it is not a moss at all but a red algae.
What is red algae?
red algae, (division Rhodophyta), any of about 6,000 species of predominantly marine algae, often found attached to other shore plants. Their morphological range includes filamentous, branched, feathered, and sheetlike thalli. The taxonomy of the group is contentious, and organization of the division Rhodophyta may not accurately reflect the phylogeny (evolutionary relationships) of its members.
Some red algae are important foods (e.g., laver, dulse). They may retain both their colour and gelatinous nature when cooked. Industrially, Irish moss (Chondrus) is used as a gelatin substitute in puddings, toothpaste, ice cream, and preserves. Some species of Corallina and its allies are important, along with animal corals, in forming coral reefs and islands. Agar, a gelatin-like substance prepared primarily from Gracilaria and Gelidium species, is important as a culture medium for bacteria and fungi. [2]
What is moss?
Definition of moss [3]
(Entry 1 of 2)
moss
verb
Definition of moss (Entry 2 of 2)
transitive verb
What are the most common sea mosses on the market today?
Eucheuma Cottonii (referred to as Kappaphycus Avarezii), Gracilaria, and Chondrus Crispus are some of the most common species available today. So what are the differences between them?
The species, Eucheuma Cottonii and Gracilaria, (shown below) grows abundantly in warmer waters, typically the:
- Java Sea
- Celebes Sea
- Solomon Sea
- Caribbean Sea,
- The Atlantic
- The Pacific Oceans
Gracilaria: a genus of gelatinous red algae (family Sphaerococcaceae) several species of which are important sources of agar-agar [4] Gracilaria are found in warm waters throughout the world, though they also occur seasonally in temperate waters. It can not tolerate temperatures below 10 °C (50 °F). Gracilaria are found in all oceans except the Arctic. Its center of diversity is the Western Pacific, where it has been traditionally cultivated as a source of agar. [5] [6]
Chondrus Crispus: (the real) Irish moss, is a common edible red seaweed that can be found on rocky shores in the Northern Atlantic. [7] Chondrus Crispus is a species of seaweed which is it tends to grow more slowly and is found in the cooler waters of the Northern Atlantic. Chondrus Crispus is also known by many as Irish Sea Moss, or Irish Carraigín. This is most likely because the Irish consumed a lot of it in the 1840’s during the Irish Potato Famine.[8]
Eucheuma or guso in the Philippines, is a group of red seaweeds/seaplants representing the subfamily Eucheumatoideae used in the production of carrageenan, an important product used in cosmetics, food processing, and industrial uses, as well as a food source for those living in Indonesia and the Philippines. Eucheuma cottonii is the particular species cultivated in the Philippines known as guso. Some of the most significant species include Betaphycus gelatinae, Eucheuma denticulatum, and several species of the genus Kappaphycus including K. alvarezii. Since the mid-1970s, Kappaphycus and Eucheuma have been the major source for the expansion of the carrageenan industry. [10]
Let’s dive deeper into how sea moss actually grows on rocks naturally and also see an example of where other mosses grow and what they look like.
Mosses belong to a group of plants known as the BRYOPHYTES. Bryophytes have no roots, but they do have thin (one cell thick!) root-like structures which serve for attachment and water absorption. These are known as RHIZOIDS.
Some kind of mosses or Bryophytes attach to the rocks by these rhizoids. Most mosses have very little resistance to drying out, and because most of the mosses are confined to areas which are damp and sheltered, some kind of rocks are suitable for them to live.
In Wales, for example, the majority of the rocks are acidic in nature, and this is reflected in may occur where the rocks are more base-rich (carboniferous limestone, for example). Once the rock has the natural conditions for the moss to grow(water, acid or basic nutrients), the moss is going to attach to the rock by means of the rhizoids. [10]
To the left we see moss that is growing in water and to the right we see moss that is found growing in areas like forests, on trees and even on rocks.
By weight, sea moss is 55% carrageenan, a polysaccharide that has multiple uses. The carrageenan derived from sea moss can be used in a variety of ways: it is commonly used as a food stabilizer and thickener, it can be used in the brewing process, and it has multiple medicinal uses. Additionally, sea moss has many antioxidants, vitamins, and other biological agents that make sea moss very nutritious and have many medical benefits as well. Many other species of algae have similar benefits and have been used in place of Chondrus crispus, but those other species may still be labeled as sea moss. [11]
Sea moss is harvested a few different ways. There is wildcrafted, which is said to be the best source, ocean farmed or sea farmed and pool farmed/pool grown.
What does wildcrafted mean?
This method of harvesting means that the algae is taken directly from its natural habitat where it grows on rocks, and contains the maximum nutritional benefits. By growing in its natural environment it absorbs all the nutrients from the rocks which it latches onto and gets all the benefits of the natural salt, sunshine, and other beneficial nutrients in the ocean has to offer. (to the right is a picture I have taken of my own purchase of wildcrafted purple Jamaican sea moss). 
What does ocean farmed or sea farmed mean?
This method of harvesting means that, although it is still grown in the sea, but is not naturally found, and is instead grown by farmers to make harvesting easier by growing on ropes instead of the natural habitat of rocks and tend to have much less nutritional benefits. (to the right is what ocean or sea farmed sea moss looks like).
What is pool farmed or pool grown?
This is the worst kind of sea moss you can consume in my opinion. This method is done by farmers who take sea moss from it’s natural habitat and create an artificial environment. They do this by growing it in pool farms and artificially recreating the natural movement and environment of the ocean, which we know is not fully possible due to the lack of natural nutrients sea moss gets from attaching itself to rocks. This results in sea moss that is larger, lighter in color and much saltier with way less nutritional value. This type of sea moss is what is referred to as “fake sea moss”. You will know the difference if your sea moss contains a huge amount of what looks like rock table salt. If you have ever purchased sea moss and there was tons of salt in the package, you more than likely have gotten pool grown sea moss. This method in unnatural and should not in my opinion be consumed. You are better off with ocean farmed/sea farmed. Where ocean/sea farmed doesn’t have the same nutritional value as wildcrafted it does have nutritional value and there are some farmers out there who have really good product. (to the right is what pool farmed sea moss looks like).
I could go on and on about this subject. Here I outline just some of the key factors one needs to know. There are so many great articles already out there all you have to do is some digging around. In this article I did not go into breaking down the various colors and shapes, nor the various uses and benefits. Maybe at a later time I will add to this article and go in depth about those things. The goal here and now is to educate on exactly what sea moss is, what real irish sea moss is and what unnaturally grown sea moss is and how to tell the difference. I am in no way an expert on the subject. I do purchase in bulk for my shop and personal use and I have done my due diligence. It is always a wise practice to research before adding and consuming new things to your diet. Make sure you are checking with your health care professional if you are on medication and want to start taking sea moss as part of your diet plan… Even though I personally do not see any harm whatsoever, unless you have an allergy, and this is my experience as a former nurse turned herbalist it is still wise to make sure you are doing your research and double checking with your health care professional or holistic professional if you have never used it before.