Preparing & Enjoying Sea Moss The Island Pops Way
They’re calling Sea moss a spanking new Superfood, but growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, we’ve known this our whole lives! In fact we’ve made a Sea moss flavor ice cream at Island pops, inspired by Seamoss Punch which is a very popular milkshake that we grew up with in the Caribbean.
If you’re not familiar with this herb, it is also known as Irish moss or red seaweed, is a type of seaweed that grows year round in tidepools and inlets. It grows on rocks, in areas where it can get a lot of sunlight. Ever since Kim Kardashian posted about drinking a sea moss smoothie, the healthy eating community has been raving about this superfood and its benefits for your skin to your immune system.
Benefits
We reached out to our very own herbalist and Sea moss supplier Kern Castle to find out more about the benefits of this ocean herb. He loves the stuff. He said he would even bathe with it. If you check out his Instagram @motherherbstt, you’ll see footage of him harvesting the sea moss, ripping it from a rock by hand. Kern provides us with natural sea moss from Matelot in Trinidad, a remote coastal village that is undisturbed by ships and traffic.
Kern said the benefits of sea moss are that it:
Helps with joint pain
Improves hair growth
Gives radiant skin and strong nails
Improves metabolism
Increases energy
Improves digestion
Improves libido
Supports heart health
Boost immune system
How do you consume sea moss?
The most popular way of having sea moss is by making it into a gel which can be easily added to a bunch of recipes like smoothies, sauces and of course Ice cream! You can also just have it by the spoonful. Some sea moss is even blended with fruit and spices for different flavorings. It can also be made into powder which can be taken in the form of capsules. This is something we would love to have at our shop soon for you. In the meantime, you can come by the shop at 680 Nostrand Avenue, Brooklyn, NY for the gel, the dried moss and of course, a yummy scoop of ice cream!
Our ice cream is made with cinnamon, cloves and aniseed essence. If you know about sea moss punch then you know what we talkin ‘bout! In Trinidad, the punch man is a beloved and loyal street vendor who sets up a cart near the sidewalk on evenings, whipping up a menu of energy packed punches. Punches are the original smoothies. He mixes condensed milk with spices and sea moss gel to create a cold, creamy drink to suck on with a straw. Many of us grew up having punch on a Sunday evening as part of an evening drive. They are as nourishing as they are sweet and delicious. Our ice cream is straight punch man nostalgia! Top it off with some peanuts for extra reminiscing.
Coming soon to Island Pops
We are working on sea moss gummies to have for you soon! That would be fun for sure! Also, we are adding a vegan sea moss flavor to the batch, creating this version with a coconut and cashew milk base.
So how do you make the sea moss gel?
Kern gave us his method to share with you. He also warned about picking the right sea moss, letting us know that there are fakes out there made in mechanical pools and processed salt. These tend to dry with a white powdery finish. Original, natural sea moss should not have salt dried on it, nor any white powder. It will have sand and small rock and shell debris though.
Step 1: Rinse the sea moss thoroughly to get the debris out
Step 2: Soak in Spring water for 4 -12 hours. Add lime to reduce the ocean smell.
Step 3: Remove the soaked moss from the water and add to a blender
Step 4: Add fresh spring water to the blender, keeping in mind that the less water you add, the more concentrated and thicker the gel would be.
Step 5: Blend on high for 2-4 mins
Step 6: Empty the gel into an airtight glass jar, refrigerate and consume within 2 weeks.
Have you ever had sea moss before? We would love to hear your feedback on which ways you enjoy it most. Be sure to come try our Sea Moss ice cream and pick some pre-made sea moss gel or raw dried moss while you’re there! It is always exciting to connect with you, to learn about what makes your taste buds excited. So let us know! How do you like your sea moss, or if you’re a newbie, what is your first impression of this mineral packed herb from the sea?