Kelp tea facts for kids
Japanese kobu-cha
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| Type | Herbal tea |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Japan, China, Korea |
| Region of origin | East Asia |
| Ingredients | Kelp |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
다시마차
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|---|---|
| Hanja |
---茶
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| Revised Romanization | dasima-cha |
| McCune–Reischauer | tasima-ch'a |
| IPA | [ta.ɕi.ma.tɕʰa] |
| Chinese name | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | 海带茶 | ||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 海帶茶 | ||||||
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Kelp tea is a special drink from East Asia. It is made by soaking kelp, a type of seaweed, in hot water. People in different countries have their own names for it. In Japan, it is called kobu-cha or konbu-cha. In China, it is known as haidai-cha, and in Korea, it is called dasima-cha.
Contents
What is Kelp Tea?
Kelp tea is a traditional herbal tea. It is different from regular tea made from tea leaves. Instead, it uses kelp, which is a large brown seaweed. This seaweed grows in cool, shallow waters around the world. It is a common ingredient in many East Asian dishes.
Kelp: A Sea Vegetable
Kelp is a type of algae that grows in the ocean. It is full of important nutrients. People have used kelp for food and medicine for a very long time. When you make kelp tea, you are getting some of these good things from the sea.
How to Make Kelp Tea
Making kelp tea is quite simple. You can use kelp in two main forms: as a powder or in thin strips. The way you prepare it can change slightly depending on the country.
Making Powdered Kelp Tea
To make powdered kelp tea, dried kelp is first cleaned. Then, it is often pan-fried lightly. After frying, it is pounded into a fine powder. For one cup of hot water, you usually use two to three spoons of this kelp powder. You can add a little sugar or honey if you like a sweeter taste.
Making Kelp Strip Tea
Another way to make kelp tea is with dried kelp pieces. These pieces are often cut into thin strips, which is called "julienned." You take about 30 grams (1.1 oz) of cleaned kelp strips. Then, you soak them in about 300–500 millilitres (11–18 imp fl oz; 10–17 US fl oz) of hot water. After the kelp has soaked for a while, you remove the strips. A pinch of salt can be added to taste.
