You can find them in the sea, in the lake, in the river. Sometimes you can find them in your aquarium, in the rain barrel or in the dog bowl that has been left outside in the sun for too long. Some algae can promote health and others can have exactly the opposite effect.
Let's take a closer look at this topic today!
Different algae
Algae are roughly divided into macroalgae (such as seaweed, seagrass, nori) and microalgae (such as chlorella, Schizochytrium sp.) based on their size.
Some species that we call algae are not algae at all, but bacteria. The best example: spirulina.
Algae grow where there is water. But not all types of algae necessarily have to be in the water. Some grow on tree trunks or rocks, on the ground (although these are also cyanobacteria) or even in the snow.
Algae in use
Algae are primarily used as food in Asian cuisine (e.g. for sushi). Algae are also very good sources of iodine and are often used as such in the diet of pets, among other things.
Due to the colors of some algae, their components are used as coloring agents. Red astaxanthin is an example. But chlorella and spirulina are also used to dye green, or an extracted spirulina to dye blue.
And in recent years, algae oil from the microalgae Schizochytrium sp. has become increasingly popular because it contains a high proportion of the omega 3 fatty acid DHA. Read more about this in our Blog.
But some ingredients other than iodine are also said to have health benefits. According to some studies, fucoxanthin can reduce obesity.
And because many algae taste like fish, they are also interesting in vegan cuisine for making fish substitute products.
Our Products
We offer you many different algae products in bulk for your projects. Nori, dulse, wakame, kelp and sea lettuce are available from us as pure powders in organic and conventional quality. We can also offer you astaxanthin and other algae extracts. Are you looking for spirulina or chlorella? Or an algae oil that is approved as a novel food according to EU guidelines?
Get to know our algae products!