How do Magang sea women process stone flowers into agar-agar jelly?

Question

Accepted Answer

The Traditional Processing of Stone Flowers into Agar-Agar by Magang Sea Women

Magang sea women meticulously process the harvested "stone flowers," a type of brownish-purple seaweed, into agar-agar jelly through a series of physically demanding steps. This tradition, passed down through generations, involves foraging the seaweed from rocky coastlines, drying, washing, and finally boiling it to extract the desired gelatinous substance. The arduous nature of this work, combined with a decline in younger practitioners, threatens the continuity of this unique marine harvest practice.
Foraging and Initial Preparation

The process begins with the sea women, such as 72-year-old Wu Feng-chiao, venturing to the rocky shores to collect "stone flowers." This marine algae is found attached to submerged rocks, requiring them to navigate crashing waves and slippery surfaces. Once gathered, the seaweed is stuffed into net sacks and transported back to their homes. Upon arrival, the harvested algae is spread out on the ground, and any visible residue or impurities are carefully snipped away.
Drying and Washing

Following the initial cleaning, the seaweed undergoes a critical drying phase. It is left to absorb sunlight for approximately four days until it is completely dry. This extensive drying period is essential for preserving the algae and preparing it for the next stage. After drying, the seaweed is subjected to multiple washes to further remove any remaining dirt or unwanted elements, ensuring the purity of the final product.
Extraction of Agar-Agar

The final step in transforming the "stone flowers" into agar-agar involves boiling. The thoroughly washed and dried seaweed is boiled, which releases its natural jelly-like substance. This extracted substance is the agar-agar. For context, 300 grams of Gelidium algae, the type harvested by the sea women, can yield approximately 50 bottles of agar-agar cooler. Each bottle is then sold for around US$1.30, representing the culmination of this labor-intensive traditional practice.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

How do Magang sea women process stone flowers into agar-agar jelly?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends