Sea lettuce
Seaweed species guide
- Harvested
- Upon request
Sea lettuce is a vivid green seaweed that grows in a thin sheet. It is remarkably similar to laver except for colour, but these two species are completely unrelated. There are many species of Ulva and it is difficult to distinguish between varieities: scientists believe that the seaweed we know as sea lettuce may actually be Ulva fenestrata or Ulva rigida.
The upper range of sea lettuce is the mid shore, but it will often thrive in rockpools. Familiar to beach visitors, it can grow rapidly in the right conditions. We find small plants on all of our harvest sites, but the exposed conditions mean that we rarely see enough to pick. Our harvesters will encounter more Ulva intestinalis, which is the same bright green colour but grows in long thin strands. Species of Ulva are widely distributed and we can source this seaweed from approved external suppliers.
- Typical uses
Used in culinary applications to impart a bright green colour, which makes it a great option for blended seasoning.
Our recommended applications for sea lettuce
Months of wild harvest sea lettuce production
We have developed a detailed knowledge of harvest seasons. Specifically, it may be possible to pick small quantities of a variety early in a season, but we delay first harvest until the rates reach commercial scale. Indicative seasons for our key species are given below. Please contact us if you would like to learn more about production months.
| Species | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Is currently not available during January | Is currently not available during February | Is currently not available during March | Is currently not available during April | Is available during May | Is available during June | Is available during July | Is available during August | Is available during September | Is currently not available during October | Is currently not available during November | Is currently not available during December |
