Biology:Laver (seaweed)
| Laver | |
|---|---|
| |
| Porphyra umbilicalis | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| (unranked): | Archaeplastida |
| Division: | Rhodophyta |
| Class: | Bangiophyceae |
| Order: | Bangiales |
| Family: | Bangiaceae |
| Genus: | Porphyra |
| Species: | P. umbilicalis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Porphyra umbilicalis (L.) Kützing
| |
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 146 kJ (35 kcal) |
5.11 g | |
| Sugars | 0.49 g |
| Dietary fiber | 0.3 g |
0.28 g | |
5.81 g | |
| Vitamins | Quantity %DV† |
| Vitamin A equiv. | 33% 260 μg29% 3121 μg |
| Thiamine (B1) | 9% 0.098 mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 37% 0.446 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 10% 1.47 mg |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) | 10% 0.521 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 12% 0.159 mg |
| Folate (B9) | 37% 146 μg |
| Vitamin C | 47% 39 mg |
| Vitamin E | 7% 1 mg |
| Vitamin K | 4% 4 μg |
| Minerals | Quantity %DV† |
| Calcium | 7% 70 mg |
| Iron | 14% 1.8 mg |
| Manganese | 47% 0.988 mg |
| Phosphorus | 8% 58 mg |
| Potassium | 8% 356 mg |
| Sodium | 3% 48 mg |
| Zinc | 11% 1.05 mg |
| |
| †Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA Nutrient Database | |
Laver (/ˈleɪvər/, in the UK also /ˈlɑːvər/) is an edible, littoral alga (seaweed). It is consumed in Wales and also in East Asia, where it is known as zicai (Chinese: 紫菜; pinyin: Zǐcài) in China, nori (海苔) in Japan, and gim (김) in Korea.
In Wales, laver is used for making laverbread, a traditional Welsh dish. Laver as food is also commonly found around the west coast of Great Britain and east coast of Ireland along the Irish Sea, where it is also known as slake.[1] It is also cultivated in Kobe, Japan and used to make a meat pancake, a local speciality.
It is smooth in texture and forms delicate, sheetlike thalli, often clinging to rocks. The principal variety is purple laver (Porphyra umbilicalis).[2] Purple laver is classified as a red alga, tends to be a brownish colour, but boils down to a dark green pulp when prepared. It is unusual amongst seaweeds because the fronds are only one cell thick.[3][4] Laver has a high content of dietary minerals, particularly iodine and iron. The high iodine content gives the seaweed a distinctive flavour in common with olives and oysters.[5]
Ulva lactuca, a green alga, also known as sea lettuce, is occasionally eaten as green laver, which is regarded as inferior to the purple laver.[6]
Cultivation
Cultivation of laver as food is thought to be very ancient, though the first mention was in Camden's Britannia in the early 17th century.[7] It is plucked from the rocks and given a preliminary rinse in clear water. The collected laver is repeatedly washed to remove sand and boiled for hours until it becomes a stiff, green mush.[8] In this state, the laver can be preserved for about a week. Typically during the 18th century, the mush was packed into a crock and sold as "potted laver".
Laver cultivation is typically associated with Wales, and it is still gathered off the Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire coasts,[9] although similar farming methods are used at the west coast of Scotland.
Laver can be eaten cold as a salad with lamb or mutton. A simple preparation is to heat the laver and to add butter and the juice of a lemon or Seville orange. Laver can be heated and served with boiled bacon. It is used to make the Welsh dish known as laverbread.
Laverbread
Laverbread (Welsh: bara lafwr or bara lawr) is a traditional Welsh delicacy made from laver. To make laverbread, the seaweed is boiled for several hours, then minced or pureed. The gelatinous paste that results can then be sold as it is, or rolled in oatmeal; it is generally coated with oatmeal prior to frying.
Laverbread is traditionally eaten fried with bacon and cockles as part of a Welsh breakfast. It can also be used to make a sauce to accompany lamb, crab, monkfish, etc., and to make laver soup (cawl lafwr).[10] Richard Burton has been quoted as describing laverbread as "Welshman's caviar".[11]
Laver is often associated with Penclawdd and its cockles, being used traditionally in the Welsh diet and is still eaten widely across Wales in the form of laverbread. In addition to Wales, laverbread is eaten across the Bristol Channel in North Devon, especially the Exmoor coast around Lynmouth, Combe Martin and Ilfracombe. In North Devon it is generally not cooked with oatmeal and is simply referred to as 'laver' (lay-ver).
Laver is highly nutritious because of its high proportions of protein, iron, and especially iodine[citation needed]. It also contains high levels of vitamins B2, A, D and C[citation needed].
See also
- Dilisk – another edible seaweed
- Edible seaweed
- Kombu
References
- ↑ "British food seaweeds". Everything2. http://everything2.com/title/British+food+seaweeds. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ↑ "Algaebase :: Species Detail". www.algaebase.org. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=102. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
- ↑ "laverbread – WalesOnline". www.walesonline.co.uk. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_objectid=14828141&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=laverbread-name_page.html. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
- ↑ Wells, Emma (2010), A Field Guide to the British Seaweeds, National Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control Scheme (p 24) .
- ↑ "Laver nori". www.hospitalityinfocentre.co.uk. http://www.hospitalityinfocentre.co.uk/Fruit%20&%20Veg/Vegetables/Seaweed/laver_nori.htm. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
- ↑ "Fact files: Sea lettuce". BBC. Archived from the original on February 20, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110220053408/http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/blueplanet/factfiles/plants/sea_lettuce_bg.shtml. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
- ↑ Mason, Laura (2008-05-20). "Great British Bites: laverbread – Times Online". London: www.timesonline.co.uk. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/real_food/article3969119.ece. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
- ↑ "Laverbread Parsons Pickles " Home". laverbread.com. http://laverbread.com/. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
- ↑ Don, Monty (2001-11-11). "Down your way". The Observer (London). https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2001/nov/11/foodanddrink.gardens. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
- ↑ "Cawl lafwr (Laver soup)". Traditional Welsh Recipes. Archived from the original on 2010-02-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20100207145829/http://welsh-recipes.the-real-way.com/cawl-lafwr-(laver-soup).html. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ↑ "Black Mountains Breakfast". Brecon Beacons National Park. Archived from the original on 2008-10-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20081012021910/http://www.breconbeacons.org/content/visit-us/local-food_and_drink/brecon-beacons-black-mountains-breakfast. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
Also prevalent on the North Devon Coast (Croyde Downend Beach) It was collected and sold in the Barnstaple Markets 1939-42 It was a pick-me-up for ill people but also some liked it fried or boiled. [1]
Resident North Devon 1936-47
Bibliography
- Lamb, Leeks and Laverbread, Gilli Davies, Grafton (16 Mar 1989), ISBN:0-586-20139-4
External links
Wikidata ☰ Q899607 entry
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- ↑ Re
