In most of its uses, it is the best if you can use kelp in general, locally or imported, then it is to attempt to find a specific species, which might not be available in your area.
All of the seaweeds are rich in Vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, C, Folic Acid, and Niacin, as well as contain 60 trace elements, B12, vitamins E and K, and phosphorus, iron, zinc, and manganese.
Each species also has a Latin name, and here I have included a list of the more common brown seaweeds. I have highlighted the large brown kelp, which might help you determine your local variety of kelp more easily.
LATIN NAME OF SOME BROWN SEAWEEDS ALSO KNOWN AS PHAEOPHYTA
1 |
Alaria Esculenta |
13 |
Dictyopteris membranacea |
25 |
Laminaria longicruris |
2 |
Ascophyllum nodosum |
14 |
Dictyota dichotoma |
26 |
Padina pavonica |
3 |
Bifurcaria bifucata |
15 |
Focus spiralis |
27 |
Pelvetia longicruris |
4 |
Carpomitra costata |
16 |
Focus serratus |
28 |
Padina pavonica |
5 |
Colpomenia spongiosus |
17 |
Focus vesiculosus |
29 |
Pelvetia caniculata |
6 |
Colpomenia peregrina |
18 |
Halidrys siliquosa |
30 |
Phyllariopsis purpurascens |
7 |
Colpomenia sinuosa |
19 |
Halopteris scoparia |
31 |
Saccorhiza polychides |
8 |
Cutleria multifida |
20 |
Halopteris filicina |
32 |
Sargassum vulgare |
9 |
Cystosesira abies-marina |
21 |
Laminaria agardhii |
33 |
Sargassum muticum |
10 |
Cystosesira compressa |
22 |
Laminaria saccharina |
34 |
Sporochonus pendunculatus |
11 |
Cystosesira discors |
23 |
Laminaria digitata |
35 |
Zonaria tournefortii |
12 |
Cystosesira usneoides |
24 |
Laminaria japonica |
|
|
ABOUT THE GREEN AND RED SEAWEEDS
The Green and Red Seaweed species are mostly used for the Spa treatments, and chosen for their mineral content, and not their gelling properties. I have chosen only one variety of each, to demonstrate how they are used. A green Wakame seaweed from Japan, and a red Dulse seaweed from Canada. Again, choose a species of seaweed available in your area.
It is also very difficult to determine the type of seaweed from the packaging, let alone if it had been rinsed or not. Your best bet to choosing the correct species, is to familiarize yourself with the different local species.
We have this available on https://seatechbioproducts.com/marine-algae-micro-and-macro-seaweeds
The Seaweed beauty guide- Clayten Tylor (page 6-7)