Sea Grapes
Combining bursting boba-like "grapes" with iodine-rich, healthy algae
While sea grapes are almost impossible to find at local restaurants, this unique form of seaweed is popular in Japan, Vietnam, the Phillippines, China, and Taiwan as an edible, healthy ingredient in certain sushi and salads, as well as a standalone snack. They are an iodine-rice, healthy algae with bursting bubbles instead of leaves; like caviar without animal proteins, they’re a savory natural predecessor to the bursting boba now used in some drinks.
In Orange County, sea grapes can be found on the menu at Tustin’s Habuya Okinawan Dining. The Oki brand of sea grapes has also operated a booth at the Flower Festival outside the Asian Garden Mall, giving away samples and selling boxes that can be purchased in local supermarkets.
What Oki sells are tiny packages of vacuum-sealed, prepackaged sea grapes from Vietnam, which when washed with tap water begin to reconstitute to normal size, amazingly fast and with a fresh, decidedly oceanic salty-umami taste. They come with (too little) of a delicious sesame dipping sauce, and are a fun, healthy addition or alternative to snacking on nori paper.
An affordable competing brand of sea grapes can be ordered here.