Irish Moss
Wild-Crafted
8 oz.

*please note: Irish moss needs to be kept refrigerated for optimum freshness! It is fine out of the refrigerator for a few days, which is why we can ship it to you. As soon as you receive it, make sure it goes directly into the fridge*

Irish Moss, or carrageen moss (Irish carraig�n, "moss of the rock") is a species of red algae that is used abundantly in living foods cuisine. As it is comprised primarily of mucilage, it can be used in place of gelatin (which is animal derived) to thicken and give structure to puddings, pies, and ice cream. Our Irish Moss is sun-dried and sand-cured.

In addition to its many uses in both main stream and raw foods preparation, it has been used for centuries for its many medicinal properties. The following is taken from the materia medica section of herbalist David Hoffman's Medical Herbalism.


Irish moss unsoaked, properly soaked, oversoaked.

Click here for a pdf of our in-depth instructions for using Irish moss. Courtesy of Tiziana Alipo Tamborra and Matthew Rogers, authors of our upcoming Cafe Gratitude dessert book "Sweet Gratitude", coming this fall.

Irish Moss
Chondrus crispus
Rhodophyta

Common name: Carragheen, Carrageenan.

Habitat: The Atlantic coast of Europe and North America.

Part used: The dried thallus. It is a seaweed.

Collection: It is collected from rocky coastlines around the North Atlantic. Large amounts are gathered from the Massachusetts coast, and in Europe mainly from Ireland and Brittany. In Ireland collection takes place in the fall, in America in the summer.

Actions: Expectorant, demulcent, anti-inflammatory

Indications: With modern attention on dramatically effective `miracle drugs', it is refreshing to remember the nourishing, and strengthening food medicines such as Irish Moss. This safety gives it some unique contributions to make in health care.

Traditionally the main use of Irish Moss is in respiratory illness where it is often the core of prescriptions to treat irritating coughs, bronchitis and many other lung problems. It may be freely used in digestive conditions where a demulcent is called for, such as gastritis and ulceration of the stomach and duodenum. The soothing activity is also seen in inflammations of the urinary system, and was at one time used extensively in the way Corn Silk is today. It has been used as a food in maintenance diets for diabetes patients.

However, its primary role was in speeding recuperation from debilitating illness, especially T.B. and pneumonia. Convalescence from major disease needs to be given more attention than it receives today. Herbs such as Irish Moss and other tonic nutritive remedies have much to offer in facilitating proper recovery of health. In these times of degenerative disease being the major killer in our society, such perspectives cry out for attention.

Recent research has shown an anti-viral property against the influenza B and the mumps viruses. Unfortunately the research was undertaken on animals, but supports the traditional use of Irish Moss in such conditions. This line of study has also confirmed the herbs value in treating ulcers and suggested exciting possibilities with an anti-coagulant effect. King's suggests its use as "a demulcent in chronic affections of the air passages, chronic diarrhoea and dysentary, scrofula, rickets, enlarged mesenteric glands, irritation of the bladder and kidneys, etc. As a culinary article it may be employed in the preparation of jellies, white soup, blanc-mange etc.