Buck's Spices

Spice Barista Corner

Spice Barista

From the Spice Barista

What is Irish sea moss, and why do people use it in food?

A real customer question, curated into a useful guide for cooking, product use, and finding just the right thing.

Irish sea moss is a type of red algae (Chondrus crispus) that grows along the coasts of Ireland and the North Atlantic. It's traditionally soaked and blended to release its natural carrageenan content, which gives it a gel-like texture — that's why it's a popular thickener in vegan recipes like smoothies, puddings, soups, and plant-based milks. It's also been a coastal food staple for generations, prized for its versatility in the kitchen.

If you want to try it yourself, we carry Natural Grown Irish Sea Moss , which you can soak and blend at home for that same gel-like consistency.

  • Great for thickening smoothies, puddings, and soups without dairy or gelatin
  • Works well in plant-based milk recipes for added body
  • A traditional coastal ingredient with a long culinary history