Foods A-Z - N is for Nori

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Nori is a Japanese name for edible seaweed which is used mostly in Japanese cuisine as a means of wrapping rolls of sushi or onigiri (rice balls filled with pickled ume, salted salmon, etc.) In a process that resembles papermaking, the seaweed is shredded and rack-dried. One of the oldest descriptions of nori dates to around the 8th century. Nori had been eaten in a paste form until the sheet form was invented around 1750. Nori first appeared in English-language publications in 1796. Nori became more readily available in the United States during the 1960's macrobiotic movement and in the 1970s with the advent of sushi bars and restaurants. Daily consumption of large quantities of dried nori is discouraged due to the amount of arsenic and cadmium and amphipod allergens (especially for crustacean-allergic people). Photo Credit: Pixabay