Where does nori come from? A look at the latest distribution of the main producing areas
Nori is the collective name for a variety of alternating algae in the red algae family Bangiaceae, including Porphyra haitanensis, Pyropia yezoensis, and Porphyra purpurea. It contains pigments such as chlorophyll, carotene, lutein, phycoerythrin, and phycocyanin. Differences in their proportions give different species of nori colors such as purplish red, blue-green, brownish red, and brownish green, but it gets its name because purple is the most common color. Now let us take a look at where nori comes from!
Where does nori come from?
China's nori producing areas are distributed along coastal regions. Porphyra haitanensis is mostly cultivated along the coasts of Fujian and southern Zhejiang, while the north mainly cultivates Pyropia yezoensis. Xiapu County, the “hometown of nori”, is one of the oldest counties in Fujian and the earliest area in southern China to cultivate kelp and nori. As early as the Yuan dynasty, there were records of Xiapu people cultivating nori, and it holds the “Xiapu Nori” national geographical indication.
Is nori a plant?
Nori is not a plant. Because nori can carry out photosynthesis, it is often mistaken for a plant, but biologists generally believe it is not a true plant because it has no true vascular tissue (xylem and phloem), unlike water weeds. In addition, several kinds of cyanobacteria are associated with seaweed. Large seaweeds mostly grow in cold regions, and the cultivated species include Pyropia yezoensis and Porphyra haitanensis.
Common types of nori
1. Porphyra haitanensis: Porphyra haitanensis is a seaweed unique to China that can be artificially cultivated. Its thallus is dark purple-green with a slight brown tinge, lanceolate, subovate, or long ovate, with a cordate, round, or wedge-shaped base, and margins that are slightly wrinkled or unwrinkled, with sparse serrations. Porphyra haitanensis has a long history in China. It was first named after Haitan Island, the main island of Pingtan County, Fujian Province. As early as the third year of the Taiping Xingguo era of the Song dynasty, it was listed as a tribute item. At present, it is widely cultivated along the coasts of Fujian and southern Zhejiang.
2. Pyropia yezoensis: The thallus of Pyropia yezoensis is bright purplish red or slightly blue-green, ovate or long ovate, generally 12-70 cm or more in height, with a round or cordate base, wrinkled margins, and neatly arranged cells that are smooth and without serrations. The chromatophore is stellate and located in the center. The basal cells extend into an ovate or long rod shape. It is monoecious, and the leafy thallus can form monospores for vegetative reproduction. It is a common species along the coast of northern China and the main cultivated alga north of the Yangtze River. It is rich in protein, polysaccharides, and vitamins and can be used as food or medicine.
3. Porphyra suborbiculata: Porphyra suborbiculata is a plant in the genus Porphyra of the family Bangiaceae. Its thallus is purplish red, round or kidney-shaped, sheet-like, and membranous, 6-10 cm wide and 3-15 cm high, with a cordate base and clearly serrated margins. It is monoecious. It usually grows on rocks in the middle and high tidal zones, with its peak growth period from December to April of the following year.
4. Porphyra dentata: Porphyra dentata is a plant in the genus Porphyra of the family Bangiaceae. Its thallus is light purplish red or purplish red, sheet-like, and membranous, 15-100 cm long and 2-10 cm wide, with a round or cordate base, few wrinkles, and serrated margins. It is monoecious and usually grows on rocks in the middle and high tidal zones.
5. Porphyra purpurea: Porphyra purpurea is a plant in the genus Porphyra of the family Bangiaceae. Its thallus is mostly ovate, lanceolate, or irregularly round, 20-30 cm high, with large ones reaching 60 cm, and 10-18 cm wide, with a few reaching more than 30 cm. The base is wedge-shaped, round, or cordate, and the margins are more or less wrinkled, smooth, and without serrations. The thallus is relatively thin, only 20-33 micrometers thick.