Limu (algae)
Encyclopedia
Limu is the Hawaiian
word for algae
. There are approximately one hundred Hawaiian names for kinds of limu, sixty of which can be matched with scientific names. Limu played an important part in the ancient Hawaiian diet
. It was used to add flavor to an otherwise particularly bland diet of kalo (taro
), 'uala (sweet potato
), and 'ulu (breadfruit
). Limu, together with sea salt
and mashed kukui nuts were the ingredients of 'inamona
, a seasoning mixture much enjoyed by early Hawaiians. 'Inamona was used to season many dishes. It was the responsibility of women to gather limu in the tidepools while men would gather those kinds of limu that grew in areas of rough surf in the outer reefs. Limu is still enjoyed by Modern Hawaiians but has become increasingly difficult to find because of over-picking, pollution
, and construction in watershed
s. Many important kinds of limu grow best in brackish water where fresh water empties into the sea. Another threat to native Limu in Hawaii is the increasing spread of marine alien invasive species. Limu has been used traditionally in Hawaii as a food additive and condiment.
Limu extracts are marketed as health supplements, the health benefits being attributed to the compound fucoidan
which is found in them.
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
word for algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
. There are approximately one hundred Hawaiian names for kinds of limu, sixty of which can be matched with scientific names. Limu played an important part in the ancient Hawaiian diet
Diet (nutrition)
In nutrition, diet is the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism. Dietary habits are the habitual decisions an individual or culture makes when choosing what foods to eat. With the word diet, it is often implied the use of specific intake of nutrition for health or weight-management...
. It was used to add flavor to an otherwise particularly bland diet of kalo (taro
Taro
Taro is a common name for the corms and tubers of several plants in the family Araceae . Of these, Colocasia esculenta is the most widely cultivated, and is the subject of this article. More specifically, this article describes the 'dasheen' form of taro; another variety is called eddoe.Taro is...
), 'uala (sweet potato
Sweet potato
The sweet potato is a dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the family Convolvulaceae. Its large, starchy, sweet-tasting, tuberous roots are an important root vegetable. The young leaves and shoots are sometimes eaten as greens. Of the approximately 50 genera and more than 1,000 species of...
), and 'ulu (breadfruit
Breadfruit
Breadfruit is a species of flowering tree in the mulberry family, Moraceae, growing throughout Southeast Asia and most Pacific Ocean islands...
). Limu, together with sea salt
Sea salt
Sea salt, salt obtained by the evaporation of seawater, is used in cooking and cosmetics. It is historically called bay salt or solar salt...
and mashed kukui nuts were the ingredients of 'inamona
Inamona
Inamona is a condiment used in Hawaiian cooking made from roasted kuku'i nut and salt.-Uses:Used in Poke and sometimes Sushi.Enhances the flavor of the Poke, sometimes called Hawaiian style which mixes sesame oil, limu, salt and Ahi or sometimes Aku....
, a seasoning mixture much enjoyed by early Hawaiians. 'Inamona was used to season many dishes. It was the responsibility of women to gather limu in the tidepools while men would gather those kinds of limu that grew in areas of rough surf in the outer reefs. Limu is still enjoyed by Modern Hawaiians but has become increasingly difficult to find because of over-picking, pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
, and construction in watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
s. Many important kinds of limu grow best in brackish water where fresh water empties into the sea. Another threat to native Limu in Hawaii is the increasing spread of marine alien invasive species. Limu has been used traditionally in Hawaii as a food additive and condiment.
Limu extracts are marketed as health supplements, the health benefits being attributed to the compound fucoidan
Fucoidan
Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide found mainly in various species of brown seaweed such as mozuku, kombu, limu moui, bladderwrack, wakame, and hijiki...
which is found in them.