Super Premium Hand pulled noodle with seaweed gamtae.

🌍South Korea

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Gamtae (감태 in Korean) is a rare, edible brown seaweed scientifically known as Ecklonia cava. 
It’s primarily harvested from clean mudflats along the western and southern coasts of South Korea, where it grows wild in uncontaminated seawater. 

Unlike more common seaweeds, gamtae cannot be farmed and is hand-harvested during its peak winter season (typically December to February). The entire process—from harvesting and washing to roasting and drying—is done manually, making it labour-intensive and contributing to its scarcity and high value.

Gamtae has a distinctive earthy, sweet umami flavour with oceanic notes often compared to white truffles or fine savory broths, thanks to its rich phlorotannin content. It’s typically roasted lightly over an open fire (unseasoned or with sesame oil and sea salt) into thin, crispy sheets. 

Gamtae has gone from a local delicacy to an international sensation. It’s now sold in upscale stores like Le Bon Marché in Paris, city’super in Hong Kong, and US specialty retailers. Features in outlets like Eater, Business Insider, and French documentaries have boosted demand, though unpredictable harvests and entire manual and delicate process keep prices premium range.

*Allergen: N/A