Winged kelp
Alaria esculenta — longer blades, firmer texture, a little sweeter.
The tender one
Winged kelp — Alaria esculenta — grows a long midrib with wavy edges, firmer and a touch sweeter than sugar kelp. It is the one chefs ask for by name.
temp 0–14 °C depth 4–16 m growth 0.7 m / month harvest late spring
Why we grow both
Two species means two markets and a hedge against a bad year for either. Alaria likes slightly shallower, faster water, so it goes on the exposed edges of the lease.