Hunting for the 'umami' in seaweed truffles
ISLANDERS had a chance to try the ‘truffle of the sea’ in Town.
Local business Seaweed Food & Co creates products using locally-sourced seaweed, including cooking salts, buttery goods and toiletries.
On Saturday they invited people to taste pepper dulse – known as truffle of the sea – which is often used in Michelin star restaurants. When one of our reporters had a taste, they could not put a finger on what the taste resembled.
‘That is because it is umami,’ explained Ben Tustin, who owns the business with his wife Naomi.
Umami is one of the core fifth tastes including sweet, sour, bitter, and salty and is often not immediately recognised by people in the western world.
The seaweed had only been collected from the beach the day before and has to be eaten when it is still fresh.
‘We make sure to only go to clean beaches that aren’t near any outfalls,’ said Mrs Tustin.
‘[Pepper dulse] is really great for cooking and is to add onto fish and chips.’
