Interested in the Irish moss drink? Read to get a recipe and some facts about this unique tasty and beneficial drink…
Many people would be fooled to believe that the Irish moss drink is a drink native to the country of Ireland. In truth however the only thing Irish about this drink is its name. It is called so because it makes use of seaweed which is known as the Irish moss. The recipe for this drink is believed to have originated from Jamaica and not Ireland.
Ingredients for the Irish moss drink
The primary ingredient for the Irish moss drink is the seaweed itself. You can use it in its dried form or the fresh seaweed itself. You will also require sum gum Arabic, linseed, isinglass, condensed milk, sugar, nutmeg, vanilla flavoring and water.
Preparation of the Irish moss drink
You will start off by washing the Irish moss drink in your sink. Wash thoroughly to remove all the sand and any other unwanted things that may be attached to the seaweed. Bring the water to a boil on the stove and add the washed seaweed to it. Add the gum Arabic, isinglass and linseed to the pot as well.
Let the pot stay on the stove until everything dissolves into the water except for the seaweed. This should take about an hour’s time. Next strain the liquid into another clean container while taking out the Irish moss trash from it. Now you will add the remaining ingredients to the mixture and taste the drink to see if it has the desired flavor. Add what you think is lacking to get the Irish moss drink to taste as you like it. The Irish moss drink is served chilled so you should keep it in the refrigerator for at least four hours before serving.
One thing to remember is that the drink you prepare may vary in terms of its thickness and consistency. Hence you may need to add water to dilute it and bring it to a desirable state where the level of consistency is such that it can be drunk.
Facts about the Irish moss drink
The Irish moss drink is extremely popular in Jamaica. Although it is widely available on street corner beverage stands it is priced higher than most other regular drinks. This is perhaps because of the unique ingredients used in the making of the drink. Many producers of this drink keep their recipes secret.
The Irish moss drink is not all about flavor. In fact the drink has a plethora of health benefits for the consumers. The primary source of these benefits is the seaweed itself which has been tested to bear many beneficial substances.
Perhaps the most useful substance found in this seaweed is carageenan. This is a substance that can be used to thicken liquids. It is also known to improve the function of the immune system as well as enhance metabolic functioning of the body.
Being seaweed, Irish moss is also rich in a number of essential minerals like selenium, sulfur and iodine. It will also load you up one some sugars like fructose, glucose and sucrose.
