Page 284 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods
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Giant Kelp, Macrocystis spp.
(LAMINARIACEAE)
GIANT KELP often grows alongside feather boa kelp blood clotting. It too has been studied for its ability to
in extensive kelp forests. It is one of the fastest grow- reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, including
ing and largest algae. It grows all over the world on breast and colon cancer.
rocky substrates, and can be found on the west coast HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Cut the top half of the
in North America. long frond and leave the lower half of the frond and
TIDAL ZONE: It is common in the subtidal zone at blades to regenerate. It’s possible to harvest from a
depths of up to 100 ft. (30m). boat or kayak at low tide anytime of the year except
FROND: The entire frond can grow up to 150 ft. during and after spawning from May to June. The
(45m) in length. It consists of numerous, wide, wrin- spring low tide at full or new moon is one of the rare
kly blades that are attached to a single stipe via an times when access to giant kelp is possible on foot.
elongated, air-filled sack, which is yellow-green in Otherwise collect it opportunistically after a storm
color. The blades are olive green to brown and the has washed it closer to the shore. Giant kelp is very
margins are toothed. Each blade can grow up to 20 versatile and can be eaten raw, blanched, dried, pick-
inches (50cm) long. led, boiled, or fried. It has a slightly sweet taste when
dried compared to other seaweeds.
HOLDFAST AND STIPE: pyramid or slightly cone-
shaped holdfast; The stipe is more like a stem and GIANT KELP CHIPS: Ingredients: 1 bowl of fresh gi-
runs almost the entire length. ant kelp, 2 tbsp. sesame seeds, olive oil. Cut the fronds
into 3-inch (8cm) pieces and sprinkle them with ses-
EDIBLE PARTS: fronds
ame seeds. Either dehydrate them or lay them on a
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Kelp is a strong anti-oxidant.
sheet of baking paper or oven rack and dry them on
Like most seaweed species, it is also high in iodine,
low with the oven door ajar. When they have almost
but also contains many trace elements and minerals
dried, lightly fry them in a pan, or roast them in the
that are particularly important for maintaining bone
oven on high for 5 min.
density, controlling blood sugar levels and reducing
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