Nori

The Saga Bay in the Ariake Sea is famous for the cultivation of nori, a seaweed that is widely used in Japanese cuisine. The region concentrate 20% of Japanese nori production, even up to 40% if including Fukuoka, Kumamoto and Nagasaki. The Saga Bay is surrounded by mountains which deposits and rivers wind down to the sea. The rich minerals they brought were responsible for the origins of nori seaweed cultivation at the beginning of the 20th Century.When eaten fresh from collection, this seaweed has a lovely salty taste, subtle and not at all overpowering. It is the harmony of gentle neighbouring mountain waters with salty marine currents which gives the well-renowned nori from Saga its unique earthy notes. It has a long, pleasant, fresh aftertaste. To produce dried nori seaweed, the fishermen chop and shred the fresh nori then mix it with sweet water.