Carrageen moss

[Tengu]

I found some, gave it a good wash and hung it up to dry.

Its nice in stews...but it doesnt thicken it, just reconstitutes

the stuff I hung up in the light has now gone PURPLE...why?

 

[cranmere]

Are you sure you have carragheen? When I've had it it gets quite glutinous when boiled. I suspect that the batch yo have has turned purple because the sun has bleached the green pigment first, rather like leaves turn red or yellow in the autumn when the chlorophyll goes and reveals the other pigments in the leaf. There aren't any poisonous seaweeds in the UK as far as I know anyway so if what you have tastes good, it's good.