ALGAE

Edible algae can be divided into two categories:

🌿 The freshwater microalgae, in which three main algae are found, all considered superfoods: Spirulina, Chlorella, and the so-called Klamath algae (named after Klamath Lake in Oregon, the only place on Earth where it is harvested).

🌿 The seaweed. In 2024, 25 algae are approved for consumption in France, while it is estimated that about 150 species are consumed daily worldwide. The approval processes for a new species are lengthy and costly in Europe.

Here are the 3 main categories of edible seaweed:

1. Brown algae: Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus vesiculosus, Fucus serratus, Himanthalia elongata, Undaria pinnatifida, Laminaria digitata, and Saccharina japonica, Laminaria saccharina, Alaria esculenta
> we offer you the sea bean (Himanthalia elongata), the wakame (Undaria pinnatifida), and the kombu (Saccharina latissima).

2. Red algae: Palmaria palmata, Porphyra umbilicalis, Porphyra tenera, Porphyra yezoensis, Porphyra dioica, Porphyra purpurea, Porphyra laciniata, Porphyra leucostica, Chondrus crispus, Gracilaria verrucosa, Lithothamnium calcareum
> we offer you the dulse (Palmaria palmata) and the nori (Porphyra and Pyropia).

3. Green algae: Ulva, Enteromorpha
> we offer you the sea lettuce (Ulva Lactuca).

🪸 Only the wakame algae is cultivated for about half of the sold quantities, the other half comes from wild collections. In the long term, this algae, which proves to be particularly productive, will likely come exclusively from cultivation.

🪸 All other algae are freshly harvested by hand and on foot, mainly in the tidal zones where it is possible to harvest algae at low tide, such as in Roscoff, one of the emblematic algae collection sites in Europe.

Here is a video of a visit we made to Roscoff:

🪸 The most important economic stakeholders are based in this small community: BRETALG, the first historical collector in France since 1991 and with whom we have been collaborating since 2017, Bord à Bord, Marinoe, Algoplus...

> The list of edible algae is maintained in Europe by the European Union, and new algae are regularly proposed for introduction as edible algae (novel foods).

🌿 Seaweed is consumed in fresh or dried form, ideally organic and dried at low temperature, which is the case at Biovie!

🌿 On each of our product pages and in our various sections "Questions and Answers", dedicated to fresh algae, dried seaweed, and microalgae, you will find details about their numerous benefits as well as recipe ideas.

>  We invite you to read our scientifically based blog articles to better understand algae :
🪸  Seaweed and Microalgae: Benefits, Nutrients, Culinary Uses
🪸  Demystifying the Relationship Between Algae and the Thyroid

🌿 On our YouTube channel, you will also find several videos on the use of algae, including this interview with a naturopath about their various nutritional benefits:

> We have also written two books and recipe books about algae. Feel free to treat yourself to them to make the most of the exceptional taste qualities and nutrient richness of edible algae!

🪸  Cooking with Algae by Marie Claire Editions

🪸  Algae in Everyday Life by Gallimard Editions

🌿 Since 2014, Biovie has specialized in the online sale of algae in France. There are only a few who sell fresh algae online, as this requires a close collaboration with the harvesting operation (in our case, we work with France's first historical harvesting operation, BRETALG), suitable cooling capacities, a certification and organic traceability along the entire supply chain, and a flawless logistics chain. It also requires knowledge of the meteorological, production, and availability constraints of the harvesting operations.

🌿 We receive a monthly delivery after each harvest during the high tides in Brittany. The freshness of our products is therefore optimal.
> If you just want to try and test out of curiosity, you can probably buy a small bowl of 150 or 200g in your usual organic store in the refrigerated section.
> However, if you want to regularly add algae to your diet and enjoy it all year round and prepare your own algae tartar, we recommend buying it in the economical one-kilo format from Biovie!

> We have personally consumed algae daily for over 20 years and have written two cookbooks on this topic:

🪸 Cooking with Algae at Marie Claire,

🪸 Algae in Everyday Life at Gallimard.

> We also write numerous blog articles with scientific sources to help you better understand algae:

🪸 Seaweed and Microalgae: Benefits, Nutrients, Culinary Uses

🪸 Demystifying the Relationship Between Algae and the Thyroid.