flipIrish Moss — Seaweed Drink
Irish Moss — Seaweed Drink
Why this dish? Irish moss, a thick seaweed-based drink, is a classic Jamaican tonic. Marley, careful to keep his body "clean" and vigorous for the stage and football, appreciated these rich, nourishing natural drinks.
A creamy drink made with dried seaweed (Irish moss / sea moss), boiled then blended with coconut milk, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla, reputed to be restorative.
You want strength, nyabinghi in your legs to play ball till evening? Drink Irish moss, my brother. It's the seaweed from the sea that Jah gives us, we rinse it well, well, boil it until it thickens like honey. A little nutmeg, cinnamon, coconut milk, and you have life in a glass. It feeds a man from the inside, seen?
- •Dried Irish moss (sea moss) — a handful (nourishing thickener)
- •Fresh coconut milk — to desired creaminess (creamy base)
- •Nutmeg, cinnamon — a grating (spices)
- •Vanilla pod — 1 (flavor)
- •Honey or raw cane sugar — to taste (sweetness)
Irish Moss — Seaweed Drink
A creamy drink made with dried seaweed (Irish moss / sea moss), boiled then blended with coconut milk, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla, reputed to be restorative.
Why this dish? Irish moss, a thick seaweed-based drink, is a classic Jamaican tonic. Marley, careful to keep his body "clean" and vigorous for the stage and football, appreciated these rich, nourishing natural drinks.
You want strength, nyabinghi in your legs to play ball till evening? Drink Irish moss, my brother. It's the seaweed from the sea that Jah gives us, we rinse it well, well, boil it until it thickens like honey. A little nutmeg, cinnamon, coconut milk, and you have life in a glass. It feeds a man from the inside, seen?
Ingredients (period version)
- Dried Irish moss (sea moss) — a handful (nourishing thickener)
- Fresh coconut milk — to desired creaminess (creamy base)
- Nutmeg, cinnamon — a grating (spices)
- Vanilla pod — 1 (flavor)
- Honey or raw cane sugar — to taste (sweetness)
Ingredients
- Dried Irish moss (from health/Caribbean stores) — 20 g (thickener)
- Water — 1 litre (cooking)
- Coconut milk — 200 ml (creaminess)
- Grated nutmeg + cinnamon — 1/2 tsp (spices)
- Vanilla extract or pod — 1 tsp (flavor)
- Honey or cane sugar — 3 tbsp (sweetness)
Method
- Rinse the dried seaweed thoroughly to remove salt and sand (several changes of water).
- Soak for 2-3 h, then boil in 1 litre of water for 20-30 min: it releases a mucilage that thickens the liquid.
- Strain to remove seaweed pieces.
- Blend the gelatinous liquid with coconut milk, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla.
- Sweeten with honey, stir and refrigerate: the drink thickens as it cools.
- Serve chilled, dusted with grated nutmeg.
How it was made : Irish moss (seaweed Chondrus crispus / Gracilaria) has been harvested on Caribbean coasts and boiled since the 19th century for its thickening and fortifying properties. Reputed as a tonic, it became a popular drink and an emblem of Jamaican restorative cuisine.
The contemporary twist : Serve as a "wellness smoothie" in a tall frosted glass with a bamboo straw and cinnamon stick — the Caribbean ancestor of the protein milkshake.
Bob Marley · Charactorium
