What Are the Different Types of Sea Moss?

Author: Samadhi Sea Moss Founder Mike Ryan

Welcome to your comprehensive guide on the various types of sea mosses. Sea moss, also known as irish moss, has gained popularity in recent years for its numerous health benefits and culinary uses. To familiarize yourself with them, keep reading to learn about the different varieties, their history, and other fun facts about this sought after sea algae. 

Did you know? Sea moss comes in a variety of types and colors.

Sea Moss Varieties 

Sea moss comes in different colors and varieties, including Chondrus Crispus (also known as Irish sea moss), Gracilaria (known as Jamaican sea moss) and Eucheuma Cottonii (commonly referred to as gusô).

All sea mosses are types of red seaweed known as Rhodophytes, one of the largest groups of seaweeds. Rhodophytes make up three major groups: brown algae (Phaeophyceae), green algae (Chlorophyta), and red algae (Rhodophyta).

Did you know? Irish sea moss became a primary source of food for the Irish people who lived in coastal areas between 1845 and 1849 during the height of the Potato Famine.

Where Does Sea Moss Grow? 

Sea moss grows all over the world in both cold and warm water. Here are the three main types of sea moss and where they grow: 

Chondrus Crispus, also called Irish sea moss, grows in cooler waters like off the coast of North America, Ireland, and Canada.

Eucheuma Cottonii and Genus Gracilaria grow abundantly in warmer waters, typically the Java Sea, Celebes Sea, Solomon Sea, Caribbean Sea, and the Pacific Ocean.

What’s the Difference Between Irish Sea Moss and Caribbean Sea Moss?

These two types of sea moss grow in different parts of the ocean. Irish sea moss grows in cooler water, and is found around Europe, North American, and Canada. Caribbean sea moss, on the other hand, grows in warmer climates. It is typically found around the Caribbean, Southern Asia, and South Africa.

Is One Type of Sea Moss Better Than the Other? 

The quality of sea moss depends on its environment and how clean the ocean water is in that area. It’s important to note that with the higher demand of sea moss, it’s best to find a sea moss company that sources wild harvested ocean sea moss and doesn’t destroy the sea moss ecosystem by taking too much at one time.

Check out our collection of sea moss gel, dried sea moss, and bulk sea moss online today.