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    Home » Recipes » How to Prepare Irish Moss

    Published: Nov 22, 2015. This post may contain affiliate links.

    How to Prepare Irish Moss

    Irish Moss, sometimes called Sea Moss, is a seaweed often used as a thickening agent in puddings, beverages, ice cream and more when animals products can't be used, or in a raw food diet.

    Thick Irish Moss gel in a bowl and small jar on a black table with a wooden spoon beside it. In the background is a jar of thinner consistency Irish Moss.

    Irish Moss, sometimes called Sea Moss, is a seaweed considered healing to the digestive tract, maybe even a superfood. It's an ingredient that I'm familiar with as it is readily used in the Caribbean, but it wasn't until a few years ago that I actually tried preparing it myself. I was wandering through a local market in Trinidad and somehow found myself walking away with a package of dried Irish Moss and dried hibiscus.

    A number of years back carrageenan, which is derived from Irish Moss, came under fire in a study that claims carrageenan can cause gastrointenstinal inflammation. After some research I've made the choice to continue to consume Irish Moss, but it's up to you to decide for yourself. Read this detailed post by Meghan Telpner for more info on the health concerns of Irish Moss.

    You'll usually find dried Irish Moss in Caribbean or Asian markets, and in some health food stores. It might not look appealing and smells a bit (okay, a lot!) like the sea. Never fear, it will all work out and your end product will not taste like ocean water.

    When you buy sea moss it will be dried, covered in salt and sometimes have bits of darker seaweed attached to it or some sand. Don't forget, this is a natural ingredient and there will be variations from batch to batch.

    Dried Irish Moss on a baking tray.
    Dried Irish Moss in a white bowl

    How to Make Raw Irish Moss Gel

    Time needed: 13 hours.

    There are 2 ways to prepare the sea moss gel. It can be boiled to quickly soften the moss and make the gel, or it can be soaked overnight. I'm sharing the overnight soak method for a raw end product. Both methods work and it's your preference how you prepare it.

    1. Rinse

      Take a small amount of Irish Moss (1 - 2 oz) out of package and give it a good rinse once or twice to get some of the salt and sand off.Rinsed Irish Moss on a baking tray.

    2. Soak

      Put it into a large bowl filled with cool water. It doesn't look like a lot but this stuff really expands so make sure to use a bowl large enough for the seaweed to double in size and still be submerged in water.A close up of dried Irish Moss soaking in a bowl of water

    3. Rehydrate

      Cover and leave overnight in the water to rehydrate. A close up of soaked Irish Moss in a bowl of water

    4. Rinse Again

      Remove the Irish Moss from the bowl and dump out the water. You may see some sand at the bottom of the bowl that has come off as the sea moss rehydrates. Give it another good rinse, making sure to get rid of any salt and sand that may have settled on the bottom of the bowl.

    5. Blend

      Put the moss into a blender with a bit of fresh water and blend. It takes a bit of time to break down and the amount of water used depends on how thick you want the end product. Add more water as needed to get to the desired consistency, keeping in mind that the gel will thicken up a bit as it sits.

      If you have high-powered blender this step will go faster, but any blender will work. Blend in batches and go slow. The gel gets quite thick and can give your blender quite a workout!
      Irish Moss gel in a NutriBullet blender A close up of Irish Moss gel in a blender.

    6. Store in the refrigerator

      Pour it into an airtight jar and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.A close up of a small jar of Irish Moss Gel on a black table. A small bowl of gel and wooden spoon in the background.

    How to Use Irish Moss (Sea Moss) Gel

    You can use this gel to thicken puddings and desserts, smoothies and other beverages. If you are avoiding animal products, following a vegan diet or a raw diet this is often used as an alternative to gelatin.

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    Comments

    1. ERIC says

      January 27, 2020 at 5:52 pm

      I use Irish Moss and ginger as an expectorant when I'm catching cold.

      Using 750ml of bottled water, I soak 14g of well dried Irish Moss for 24 hours. Using a thumbfull quantity of freshly chopped ginger, I make a cup (250ml) of tea and let it soak overnight in the refrigerator alongside the Irish Moss. I blend the two together, including the fragments of ginger, and simmer for 30 minutes before pouring the concoction into a wide mouth ball jar. I refrigerate after cooled and use approx 250ml at a time to make a smoothie of my choice. Whatever chest congestion I'd been feeling is usually long gone before the liter of elixir is.

      Reply
      • Hema says

        February 09, 2020 at 4:00 pm

        Thanks for sharing Eric. I haven't used Irish Moss in this way, but it's always great to find new ways of using such a great ingredient!

        Reply
      • Hema says

        May 06, 2020 at 2:01 pm

        Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    2. Tina Marie says

      April 20, 2020 at 2:18 pm

      Lovely explanation Heme. Thank-you.

      Do you know if Irish moss in its congealed form can be successfully frozen for a period of time?

      Blessings.
      Tina Marie

      Reply
      • Hema says

        May 18, 2020 at 3:59 pm

        Hi Tina Marie:

        I have not tried it myself but from my understanding it can be frozen. I hope that helps!

        Reply
    3. Marcellus says

      August 13, 2020 at 5:31 pm

      I'm just trying it out to boost my immune system

      Reply
    4. Pat says

      October 23, 2020 at 8:09 am

      I have a dry mucus’s cough that keeps me up at night can Irish Sea moss help me to get this mucus out and can I get it in a pill form if their is such thing

      Reply
      • Hema says

        October 23, 2020 at 12:47 pm

        Hi Pat: Thanks for reaching out. This is something that you should talk to your health care provider about as there could be many reasons for the cough. I have seen Irish Moss in pill form, but I have not tried any of them. Good luck!

        Reply
    5. felix adegboruwa says

      November 02, 2020 at 3:43 pm

      What are the health benefits of Irish Moss?

      Reply
    6. Bryan says

      December 17, 2020 at 8:16 pm

      How do I take the sea moss? Is it best to add to a drink or spread on a salad?

      Reply
      • Hema says

        January 04, 2021 at 3:51 pm

        Hi Bryan:

        It's best added to a drink or smoothie. It's pretty thick and doesn't have much taste on its own. Keep in mind that because it is thick, it will thicken up any drink that you may add it to. Good luck!

        Reply
    7. Reese says

      December 28, 2020 at 2:41 pm

      Hi, where do you buy your seamoss from if you dont mind sharing. :)))))

      Reply
      • Hema says

        January 04, 2021 at 3:49 pm

        Hi Reese: I got some Irish Moss when I was in Trinidad and have also purchased locally in a Caribbean market (I'm in Toronto). You can often find it in health food stores but I find that to be a bit more expensive.

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Hema! I'm a Toronto-based nutritionist, workshop facilitator, wellness educator, speaker and part-time traveler. Join me to learn simple recipes, be introduced to new foods and food experiences.

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