The high prices of certain foods can be very bothersome. That’s especially the case for ingredients like seaweed, which are rare to find in good quality. Seaweed salad, in particular, is one such type of food which people often complain about being so expensive.
Many are bothered by the high price tag, and we’re here to give some more insight on why the salad is so expensive in the first place. Check out the list of reasons given below to learn more about the topic and figure out the main reasons for this issue that so many complain about.
Why Is Seaweed Salad So Expensive?
- Harvesting Method
One of the first things that you should note about seaweed is that it is mostly made in Southeast Asia. On top of this, there are a few countries that manufacture it, but the main sources only include Japan and China.
Keeping this in mind, you should also note that the process used when making seaweed is also quite technical. While the types of algae that this product is taken out from are quite common. You should note that most of the areas that this grows in are polluted. Considering this, taking out the algae and making seaweed is not an option.
The companies have to first ensure that they select an area that is clear of pollution. This is why there are industries dedicated to keeping the seaside completely clean and then harvesting seaweed from it. The plants used to make all these algae produce the product once every 10 days. Additionally, these can be extracted throughout the year however, only the starting of the harvest can be used to make nori sheets.
- Machines Used During Production
The technique used when making seaweed is the same as the ancient method Japan used when making paper. This was done by using hands, but companies have now come up with machines. These will use a delicate process to ensure sheets of nori are made that look like paper. You should note that all the seaweed taken out from the seaside has to be first dried.
This is another step on top of all the processes that the seaweed has to go through in machines. Additionally, all the machinery is quite expensive and has to be maintained frequently. Just keeping it clean requires tons of effort. To deal with all of this, companies have to spend extra on successfully producing ingredients. Keeping all the information provided above, you can see why the costs for seaweed salad are so high.
- Niche Food in West
People living in Western areas already know how niche seaweed is. This is mostly used when making onigiri which is rice wrapped in nori. Additionally, one other dish that seaweed is used in is sushi. Both of these are rarely eaten in Western areas. People often decide to get them as a snack on a special occasion. Considering this, there are only a few restaurants that focus on making sushi in these areas. Keeping this in mind, you can see how the prices for this product can be expensive when compared to others.
- Imported Ingredient
Finally, one of the last reasons why seaweed salad is so expensive is because its ingredients are imported from Southern Asia. The salad itself is not expensive but the seaweed or nori used in it. These can only be produced in a few areas which is why the only option other countries have is to import them. Importing ingredients from one country to another is already expensive, but there are many additional costs that go into it as well. This includes preservation, transportation, taxes, and much more. This on top of the branding done on the products gives it a high price.
The demand in comparison is not as high which is why buyers have to pay a premium. Keeping all the information in mind, you can easily see why seaweed salads are so expensive. You can also find some companies that provide nori sheets at a much lower price. Using these, people can easily make seaweed salad at their homes. The recipe is quite easy which is why you should not have much trouble following it.