There may be cookies with information supporting the load balancing of the system, ensuring all users the best possible experience. “We hope to address further possibilities on the kelp platform. This enzyme is often a target for blood pressure-lowering drugs [70, 71]. Some of the kelp species are very long, and can even form kelp forests. Google Analytics uses cookies (small text files that the site stores on the user's computer), which registers the users' IP address and provides information about the individual user's online movements. The purpose of the storage is to improve our information service. In a cell study, 5 organic brown seaweed (kelp) extracts blocked an important enzyme that may contribute to high blood pressure (Angiotensin-converting Enzyme, ACE). I love golden kelp in pickles and here I share a recipe that I use for it. The unusual-looking packages of dried plants may appear more intimidating than intriguing, but it doesn't have to be this way. Seaweed describes many aquatic marine plant species and algae. Seaweed is a word used to name many species of aquatic plants, specifically oceanic ones (hence the sea- prefix). Kombu-Pan: Toyama’s Specialty Kelp Seaweed Bread. Seaweeds can grow like underwater forests, kelp beds (a type of brown seaweed) cover up to 25% of the world’s coastlines. Discarding most of the resource. Plus the noodles, as we mentioned, are only about 30% total kelp. Kelp Seaweed. However, kale may be coming to the end of its term in royalty with the rise of the seaweed fad. On the other hand, kombu or kelp can be seen in some kinds of pickles or Tsukemono for its umami and is often eaten in Tsukudani form. Contact form is for visitors to easily send a message to the website's contact person. Wakame vs. Nori vs. Kombu vs. Researchers in Norway are set to do something about this, with the goal of fully using this resource. Here's the break down: Nori. We see that Sea Tangle actually claims a 4-ounce serving contains approximately 54.8 mcg of iodine. Personal information we receive is not used for purposes other than responding to the inquiry. Most settlements were along the coast where kelp could be harvested from the beach. Kale has very high levels of vitamins that are important for our health, especially vitamins A, C, and K. Having a bowl of either of these two superfoods is an easy way to get all your daily nutrients without an excessive amount of calories. The reason for this storage is to confirm whether emails are sent from the website and forwarded to the correct recipient. Decide what kind of seaweed you want to prepare. seaweed crisps, atlantic broad kelp crisps fat free and full of iodine Arame is thin, wiry, and almost black. On the other hand, according to the article “コンブ” on Wikipedia Japan, dried kelp (Rishiri Kombu) has 138 kcal per 100 grams. In its most advanced form, it consists of fully controlling the life cycle of the algae. I really can not live without seaweed, as I can eat it every day. Atlantic Mackerel (raw) vs Kelp Seaweed. Moreover, the new cells can reduce joint inflammation. As you may know, seaweed is an indispensable part of Japanese food culture, and especially wakame and kombu, also known as kelp, have been widely consumed in Japan since the old days. Kombu is prepared for making soup stock or “dashi (出汁)” and is usually not eaten itself. In Japanese cuisine, wakame and kombu are most commonly used in miso soup, but they are utilized in different ways. 6.64% higher water content per 100g? Some seaweed varieties do need to be cooked for a couple of hours before eating to achieve the best flavour, so make sure you are cooking with the right type of seaweed. Though kelp is also a type of seaweed, it grows only in saltwater environments, which is why it’s harvested near rocky ocean coastlines. “This way, we’ll be able to better use each other’s expertise, which will create a completely different dynamic in our work.”. Why is Atlantic Mackerel (raw) better than Kelp Seaweed? Kelp is not only becoming a popular ingredient in dietary cooking, but also a popular supplement. Products from kelp have the potential to provide great money-making opportunities, but we need to know more about these possibilities before we can use them. Small businesses have caught the wave, too, adding the versatile ingredient to a wide range of specialty items that make the most of seaweed's exotic cachet. A few of the more common are described below: Alaria is light green and almost transparent. Seaweeds include microscopic phytoplanktons, which provide the base for most marine food chains; as well as giant kelp, which form sea forests at the bottom of the oceans. For the following decades, interest in kelp dissipated but Druehl kept growing seaweed, selling it in health food stores. Perhaps the most familiar of all Japanese seaweeds thanks to its use in sushi and rolls. All Rights Reserved. Norway’s interest in utilizing seaweed and kelp has fluctuated through the years. Kale. https://sortathing.com/food-nutrition/seaweed-salad-kelp-noodle-recipes So today, from the point of view of us Japanese, let me talk about how wakame and kombu differ from each other in usage, nutrition facts, and so on. EAT YOUR SEA VEGGIES! Furthermore, these seaweeds can help type-2 diabetes and even help us drop a few pounds. Of the dry matter left, alginate accounts for about 40 per cent, while the rest is currently sent back to sea, where it doesn’t do any harm but isn’t profitable for anyone either. 87g vs 81.58g; 1.67x more proteins per 100g ? Although you may occasionally find kelps as pickles, sashimi, or sushi toppings. Seaweed could help both food security and the environment. Watch and subscribe my YouTube channel simple western and Asian menu for ingredient and procedures and more videos of my menu everyday. It is never the same, the spices change, the vinegar sometimes is more, sometimes is less. However, this amount comprises no more than about 2.5 per cent of the kelp forest’s annual growth, so the opportunities to harvest more in a sustainable manner are considerable. Yes, kelp seaweed is known to be an iodine-rich food source, but kelp noodles probably don't contain a whole lot of this nutrient. Seaweed is nothing new to sushi lovers, but the ocean plants are now used in all sorts of new culinary ways. Seaweed has been a staple of many coastal and maritime people and especially in Asian cuisine for thousands of years and they're of increasing importance to health conscious diets everywhere around the world today. Kelp is exclusively grown in saltwater, and attaches to the ocean floor. Classification: Kelp is often classified as a type of seaweed. Because kelp is so much bigger than other varieties of algae, it needs the continuous movement of the water to get its nutrients. Hiziki is thin, wiry, and almost black. “We have 650 species of seaweed on our coasts,” says Swinimer, “and 32 types of kelp—the most diversity on the planet.” Seaweed provides a wealth of nutrients, from natural vitamins A, B, C and E to potassium, zinc, iron, iodine, high levels of fibre, and, … What eats seaweed? Kelp’s powerful umami flavor is perhaps most prominent, and certainly most ubiquitous, in the savory broth called dashi, the foundation for Japanese cuisine. 1.7g vs 1.3g; 22.02% more calcium per 100g? Seaweed can range in size from extremely tiny to humongous. The Privacy Statement is about how this website collects and uses visitor information. Also try quick fried or toasted in a skillet. All kelp is seaweed, but not all seaweed is kelp. In contrast, wakame can be the main ingredient of miso soup, and in fact, the one with wakame and tofu/onions is one of the most loved miso soup varieties in Japan. Atlantic Mackerel (raw) 34. points. Dulse is dark red. Store in a cool, dry place in an airtight container or zipper-lock bag. What exactly do we need to research? It is voluntary for those who visit the web sites to provide personal information regarding services such as receiving newsletters and using the sharing and tip services. Bull kelp and some of the larger brown seaweeds can be used as a wrap for meats that are cooked on the barbecue or in a pan. By Steinar Brandslet Published 06.08.19. We ask for the name of the sender and contact information for this. If the webpage has search function, it stores information about what keywords users use in Google Analytics. Cooking With Kelp. Coastal community groups, environmentalists, and fishing industry organizations aligned against Marine Biopolymers’ proposal. It is “meaty” in texture and flavor and full of umami. Kale vs Kelp Seaweed. Just like fruits and vegetables are their own categories of food, seaweed is the umbrella term for multiple varieties of sea vegetables, also called microalgae. Most of the time, they process it to make kombu. Today, supported by the Japanese food boom, it seems these 2 varieties of edible seaweed have also gained recognition … Nori, for example, is the type of seaweed used in sushi. Nori is also sold as a snack and is a good source of vitamins A and C. Try this recipe for salmon maki sushi. So today, from the point of view of us Japanese, let me talk about how wakame and kombu differ from each other, On the other hand, kombu or kelp can be seen in some kinds of pickles or Tsukemono for its umami and is often eaten in, Wakame and kombu are not only used in cooking but in Japan, they are also available in snack form. Kelp, also known as kombu, is the largest seaweed. What stands in the way of a product ending up on the market? Seaweeds without holdfasts can easily survive by floating along with the … The information collected by Google Analytics is stored on Google servers in the U.S.. Photo: Science Photo Library/NTB Scanpix. What new products? At times I also put a teaspoon of sugar in with. Research news written for the general public, Algae can outcompete soya and become big business, Hoping to treat osteoarthritis using artificial cartilage tissue, configure your browser to accept / reject cookies. There are about eighteen edible species in Laminariaceae and most of them, but not all, are called kombu. These forms are available to the public to perform the tasks they are supposed to do. Atlantic Mackerel (raw) Kelp Seaweed. While nori is delicious, it does not offer the same nutrients as kelp for dogs. To supply the new industry in iodine synthesis, kelp ash production continued in some parts of West and North Scotland, North West Ireland and Guernsey. However, this has not always been the case. Iodine is mostly concentrated in the outer skin, but some is present in the clear inner layer. Only the keyword is saved and they can not be linked to other information about the users, such as the IP addresses. The institutions themselves will contribute NOK 14 million. In New Zealand, we have several different kelps, the better known are Bull Kelp (Durvillia), Macrocytis kelp (or South Island Kelp) and Ecklonia Kelp(or North Island kelp). Benefits: Kelp has been consumed widely in Asian centuries for centuries, and is now one of the most popular seaweed varieties eaten in the West. Hi, I'm Tomo, a Japanese blogger living in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. Leave the kelp to soak for at least 5 minutes to get crunchy kelp or 10 minutes to get soft kelp. Simple, universal, god for a number of seaweeds, yummy. But kelp (a kind of seaweed) isn’t too far behind, either. Sea kelp needs nutrient-rich waters because of its bigger size, meaning there needs to be at least a small … Kelp is a type of brown seaweed high in iodine, protein, calcium and iron. Though kelp is a kind of seaweed, it is different from seaweed in many aspects. Kelp also doesn’t float around like seaweed. Your email address will not be published. Nina Tveter, NTNU Notify me of follow-up comments by email. “We cook butterfish inside a kelp bag and serve it in a small bull kelp parcel. Put 1 ounce (30 g) of dry mixed seaweed into a large bowl and pour in enough cold water to cover the kelp. In Norway, most of the kelp that is used for products is harvested from nature. A 1% or 5% fucoidan (from kelp) diet reduced fat in mice that were fed a high-fat diet over 12 weeks. “It’s hard to predict what applications all the different products from seaweed and kelp will yield in the future, but our experience is that a solid understanding of the interaction between structure and function is important for creating good products and applications,” says Aachmann. 3mg vs 2.85mg; 5.06x more potassium per 100g? Ground the dried pieces in a spice grinder until it’s a fine powder. Classified in the Laminaria order, about 300 genera of Kelp are known. The shape is like a long green sheet with slimy surfaces. Seaweed vs Kelp. Seaweed and kelp are more than food . We use Google Analytics's tracking code to. Dulse is a seaweed—a large category of edible saltwater plants and algae that also includes species such as nori and kelp. The Ascophyllum seaweed found in Doctor Seaweed’s Weed & Wonderful ® seaweed infused oils and organic seaweed supplements is actually harvested in the pristine lochs of the Scottish Outer Hebrides. BC Kelp-Seaweed Kelp Recipes . Seaweed has a unique internal structure, differentiating it from plants that grow on land. Japanese people rarely use fresh kelp for cooking. So how do you cook with seaweed? Kelp consists of 80-90 per cent water by weight. A main source of plant nutrients has been and still is seaweed (locally called kelp). Kelp. Little bags of air help the heavy stalks to float. The quintessential example of snack foods made of wakame is, Meanwhile, the long time favorite kelp snacks and candies in Japan include, Lastly, let’s check the nutrition facts. Kelp, a species of large seaweed, has been eaten in East and Southeast Asia for centuries. Technically, seaweed is a form of algae, but seaweeds are often referred to as “sea vegetables” and are often treated as vegetables for culinary purposes. Also, Tororo Kombu (kelp shavings) and Shio Kombu (salted kelp), processed from kombu, are foods very familiar to us Japanese. You can either steam, saute or boil dried kelp to serve as a side dish or use in a recipe. It is rich in iodine, which supports a healthy thyroid, and can help improve blood glucose levels – excellent news for diabetics. As you may know, seaweed is an indispensable part of Japanese food culture, and especially wakame and kombu, also known as kelp, have been widely consumed in Japan since the old days. The seaweed salad you might have eaten is actually not kelp, it is wakame. Because kelp is so much bigger than other varieties of algae, it needs the continuous movement of the water to get its nutrients. There are many kinds of edible seaweed. This news gives hope for people suffering from arthrosis, also known as osteoarthritis. The Norwegian Seaweed Biorefinery Platform will gather information on opportunities for using raw materials extracted from the algae. Seaweed vs Kale. Christina Benjaminsen, SINTEF, What else can seaweed be used for? Various species of kelp grow around the world, according to climate, current and conditions. But kelp plays a crucial role in the environment, providing food and habitat to commercially important species like cod and lobster as well as the charismatic otters and seals that draw tourists to the Highlands, among other ecological benefits. Before we start comparing some common seaweeds, let’s answer this question: Is seaweed a vegetable? Researchers in Norway are set to do something about this, with the goal of fully using this resource. It is commonly sold dried, as kelp will rehydrate quickly with a number of cooking processes. Whereas kelp is most often found along rocky coastlines, and only in saltwater. Kelp Seaweed. Why is Kale better than Kelp Seaweed? Researchers believe we should be able to remedy this. In other words, in miso soup, kombu or kelp is used only for its umami. According to a study in the Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, kombu is the richest source of iodine, followed by wakame and nori. The e-mail address will also be deleted if we receive feedback that it is not active. Published 06.08.19. Dried and ground seaweed. 2. Kelp boasts a vitamin K content of 53 micrograms per cup, while Irish moss, laver and wakame each contain less than 5 micrograms per serving. Lastly, let’s check the nutrition facts. Meet one pioneer putting kelp on plates and Rathlin Island on the map. Whatever colour and size they are, sea kelp and seaweed both have particular characteristics. The "Share with others" feature can be used to forward links to the site by email, or to share the content of social networking. 6.64% higher water content per 100g? December 1, 2020. Here we discuss how Kelp is different from Seaweed. In Norway, most of the kelp that is used for products is harvested from nature. The search usage pattern is stored in aggregate form. For many centuries, people associated kelp with seaweed. However, there are inherent differences between the two – in their appearance, in the number of species and their various uses. “Harvesting can be difficult. Tips for tips are not logged with us, but only used to add the tips to the community. 24.8x more lipids per 100g? Most of the time, they process it to make kombu. Once the email is received by the recipient, it is up to the recipient to determine the data processing needs of the email. Required fields are marked *. Algae cultivation is popular, but good uses for the raw material are still lacking. Kelp is much tougher and thicker than other seaweeds and can lend a satisfying density when added in small amounts to salads. Keep in mind that kelp is a type of seaweed, but not all seaweed is kelp. Kelp features in the diets of many civilizations, including Chinese, Greek, and Iceland, however, the largest consumers of kelp are the Japanese, who have incorporated kelp and seaweed into their diets for over 1,500 years. Kelps are brown algae seaweeds from the shallow ocean. The seaweed kombu contains lots of dietary fibers, iron, calcium, and glutamic acid, known as an umami component, and is a rich source of iodine. This below is just a guide, make it your own. Dried seaweed is also immensely versatile - Japanese kombu (kelp) forms the base of dashi stock, which is the heart of many Japanese dishes. Blood Fat Levels . Though the price of kelp ash went into steep decline, seaweed remained the only commercial source of iodine. Clinical research has confirmed that brown seaweeds like kelp and bladderwrack immediately boost cognitive performance, especially after a big meal. The work on the knowledge platform will be managed by NTNU. Although you may occasionally find kelps as pickles, sashimi, or sushi toppings. In order to gain a better overview of seaweed’s possibilities, researchers from several institutions in Norway are working together to gather information that may be relevant for research on using the algae. We’re talking about close cooperation with industry and other social actors, even though industry won’t own the research results. Such cookies may contain language code information for languages ​​selected by the user. 205mg vs 168mg; 5.26% more iron per 100g ? Learn how your comment data is processed. Kelp is the most widely well-known type of seaweed. It was taken to the gardens and hay meadows where it was spread and/or composted. SINTEF Industry, SINTEF Ocean, NMBU, Nofima and Møreforskning are the other research institutions involved. Kelp, on the other hand, is alway really big. 2.8g vs 1.68g; 30.77% more dietary fiber per 100g? Kombu is known for the important role it plays in Japanese cuisine and is also eaten in other parts of Asia. If you use the email feature, we only use the provided email addresses to resend the message without any form of storage. The Research Council of Norway is contributing NOK 34 million to the knowledge platform over five years. By Kelp powder is also a significant source. Why does this matter for kelp meal fertilizer? Kelp is also referred to as large seaweed, which belongs to the brown algae. Meanwhile, the long time favorite kelp snacks and candies in Japan include Su-Konbu, Oshaburi Kombu, and Kombu Ame. The interest in cultivating kelp has grown in recent years and could potentially be a major sustainable resource for Norway. But unlike kombu, wakame doesn’t have plenty of umami components, so it is not suitable for making dashi and is not used for it. In addition to humans, seaweed (in its natural environment) is … Gardeners just knew that it worked. Kelp also doesn’t float around like seaweed. 450mg vs 89mg; 26.72x more vitamin A (IU) per … The word “Kelp” refers to the raw form of marine vegetables. e-mail: Scrumptious, crispy, green bull kelp fronds or flakes can be eaten right out of the bag or sprinkled in soups, salads, seafood, omelettes, pasta to pizza. Once you get the lay of the land -- or sea -- you'll be perfectly prepped to whip up your own seaweed-starred dishes at home. Let's take a closer look at five different types of Japanese seaweed and how to use them in the kitchen. 205mg vs 168mg; 5.26% more iron per 100g? The statement contains information that you are entitled to when collecting information from our website, and general information about how we treat personal data. The kelp is farmed in large quantities to sustain the demand for kelp on the dinner plate. It is not a totally novel idea to ask people to eat seaweed. The se… The kelp has a common ancestor, but not for all the seaweeds. The website can send out newsletters by email if you have registered to receive this. Today, supported by the Japanese food boom, it seems these 2 varieties of edible seaweed have also gained recognition and have been gradually getting used by chefs and home cooks overseas. Kelp Seaweed. The form is sent as email via Mailgun as a third party solution. Choose the thickest you can find. Registration form is for visitors to sign up or register. Posted by Orlando Style | Jan 30, 2017 | Health | 0 | It is no secret that kale has been queen of the superfood craze for the past few years. Receive notifications of new posts by email. Updated December 1, 2020. Based on the article “, On the other hand, according to the article “, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window). Unlike the Laminaria kelp, extracting alginate from the cultivated varieties of sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) and winged kelp (Alaria esculenta) is not yet a profitable venture. A Norwegian research group has been able to achieve bio-oil yields of 79% from a common kelp. Why is Kale better than Kelp Seaweed? Kelp is sold in huge sheets in many Asian markets, as well as most whole-foods stores. As an important part of the effort to create a user-friendly website, we look at the user pattern of those who visit the site. Fucoidan, another type of sugar from kelp used as a dietary supplement, is also utilized to a very limited extent. (In Korean cooking, kelp is called dasima, and is an essential ingredient for making broth.) SHOW MORE. You might love the taste of seaweed, but only enjoy it in your dishes when you dine out. Algae cultivation is popular, but good uses for the raw material are still lacking. 2. For the purpose of enriching your life, I would like to introduce things about Japan on this blog, especially unique Japanese products, cooking recipes, cultures, and facts and trivia. Dried kelp, or dasima in Korean, or kombu in Japanese, is a very important ingredient in the base broth of many Korean recipes, giving the broth a delicious umami flavor. Kelp is comes under the Laminaria classification and is part of the brown algae family. Akua is raising funds for its kelp burger product on Republic, an equity crowdfunding platform, and already has raised more than $100,000.Boyd Myers knows some people might be a … In the early days there was no scientific knowledge of kelp. Steinar Brandslet Simply rehydrate until soft in cool water, then drain and slice. Veggie Salad with Seaweed Slivers. Every year, about 200 000 tonnes of kelp are harvested, mainly Laminaria hyperborea, a massive leathery seaweed, and Ascophyllum, also known as Norwegian kelp. To analyze the information, we use the. Cook with kelp: The nutrient-rich seaweed can be used in fish dishes (left) and sushi (right) 'Because kelp grows in a nutrient-rich water, it is packed full of nutrients,' she continued. The secret is to heat the kelp very quickly and bring it to the right temperature within seconds. Seaweeds have what are called holdfasts instead of roots, and these holdfasts merely hold the plant in place rather than absorbing any nutrients like roots. Cooking with Seaweed: Varieties, Benefits, and Recipe Suggestions Kelp. It takes place with ships, sometimes in bad weather and under challenging conditions,” says Aachmann. The website may have a form for registration, contact form or other form. Kelp and Seaweed. 13.89g vs 0.56g; 11.07x more proteins per 100g ? Between 24 hours and 30 days, only mailheader is stored before the submission is deleted after 30 days. This does not seem to be the trend in Europe, where the practice of kelp harvesting and consumption seems rather odd for the majority of people. 2.8g vs 1.68g; 30.77% more dietary fiber per 100g? Other researchers working with the same species have yields closer to 20%. Confusingly, species of Laminariaceae … “This will be a knowledge platform that addresses all aspects of the kelp – from harvesting it and bringing it ashore all the way to having a finished product,” says Aachmann. Mailchimp is the data processor for the newsletter. Seaweed vs Kelp- Is There Any Difference? The entire submission will be stored at Mailgun for 24 hours. name: Share your seaweed recipe here. Based on the article “ワカメ” on Wikipedia Japan, raw wakame has 45 kcal per 100 grams and is a good source of dietary fibers, alginic acid, and fucoidan, from which you can expect health benefits such as the improvement of cholesterol level in the blood, and the prevention of arteriosclerosis and cardiac infarction. Kale vs Kelp Seaweed. Kombu is a specific variety of kelp that’s extremely common in Japanese, Chinese and Korean food. Scientists are using alginate from seaweed to try to get cells to form new body parts. GOLDEN KELP AS FOOD. These are some of the questions the platform plans to address. The main food species grown by aquaculture in Japan, China and Korea include Gelidium, Pterocladia, Porphyra, and Laminaria. General differences. Kelp vs seaweed. General values Vitamins Amino acids Minerals Sugars. 1.7g vs 1.3g; 22.02% more calcium per 100g? For the purpose of enriching your life, I would like to introduce things about Japan on this blog, especially unique Japanese products, cooking recipes, cultures, and facts and trivia. Prominent species. The kelp pickles can be eaten right away, but the flavor is better after a week or so. It is used in ice cream, in various gels and to lessen the symptoms of acid reflux. I'm Tomo, a Japanese blogger living in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. All such services should therefore be used wisely. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Cookies are used in the operation and presentation of data from websites. This is important, for two key reasons. The treatment basis is the consent of the individual, unless otherwise specified. The exact type of kelp made into kombu (naturally dried) wil… 91. points. Kelp is also known as Kombu, the Japanese word for kelp. The quintessential example of snack foods made of wakame is Kuki Wakame. Some view it as a superfood due to its high concentration of vitamins and minerals — especially iodine, which we know is a super heavyweight champ in our fight against weight loss. It stays in a single spot due to a root-like system called a “holdfast” that anchors it to the ocean floor and allows groups of kelp to grow together. Kelp vs Seaweed. In short, “we want to use more of the substances contained in kelp,” says Professor Finn Lillelund Aachmann at NTNU’s Department of Biotechnology and Food Science. None of the cookies allow us to link information about your use of the site to you as an individual. Kelp specifically refers to the subgroup of the largest seaweed. In its simplest form, it consists of the management of naturally found batches. We now know that seaweed contains … Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Seaweed farming or kelp farming is the practice of cultivating and harvesting seaweed. … Alginate is one of the substances extracted from algae and is by far the best known. Seaweed is very high in iodine, something not seen in many other foods and important for maintaining a healthy thyroid. That’s a traditional Maori way of cooking food, basically use bull kelp as an oven bag, and it really keeps the flavour. Photo: Per Henning, NTNU Recommendation of Unique Japanese Products and Culture © 2020. Kale. Kelp and seaweed is popular as a food source in several Asian countries, complementing soups, salads and sushi. On the other hand, according to the article “ コンブ ” on Wikipedia Japan, dried kelp (Rishiri Kombu) has 138 kcal per 100 grams. What are the benefits of eating kelp?