Naruto Wakame (鳴門わかめ)

Open a bowl of miso soup in Tokushima and the seaweed inside may not behave the way you expect. It holds its shape and bites back a little. Locally, that seaweed is often Naruto wakame (鳴門わかめ), a Japanese seaweed specialty from the Tokushima coast around the Naruto Strait. This guide explains what Naruto wakame seaweed is and how it tastes. You will also find its history, harvest season, product types, nutrition, and simple ways to prepare it at home. TOCWhat Is Naruto Wakame? Naruto wakame is wakame (Undaria pinnatifida), a brown seaweed that Tokushima growers farm and gather along their coast. So the species is the same one sold worldwide. What sets it apart is the place, the tidal water, and the way local processors handle it. Quick Facts: Naruto Wakame Japanese name鳴門わかめ (Naruto wakame) SpeciesWakame, Undaria pinnatifida (brown algae) RegionCoast of Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku, around the Naruto Strait Typical seasonLate January to late April, with February and March often the main period Main formsFresh, blanched and salted, dried and cut, ito wakame (threads) TextureValued for a firm, springy bite CertificationOptional Tokushima Prefecture certification mark for approved pr...