New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-06
M57 0ISE TOD
vs. n. TALKS
THE USES OF ICELAND MOSS AND OTHER
LICHESs.

LICHENs.
Iceland moss was highly priced for its nutri-
tous and mucuaginous qualities When properly
washed. free from its bitter principle dried and
powdered It makes a paatable blanc mango. which
WAS in grea. demand before ge.atine and similar
articles were known TO cookery pudding OF this
edible Nchen known TO the botanist Cetraria
IsIandica is now something Of a novelty. Though
this moss IS quite abundant In winter on the sandy
plains and mountains OF New-Englsnd It Is scarcely
ever gathered, except by the botanst.
In Iceland where the Cetraria covers the rocks. 1t
has long been a common article OF food for
and beast The moss is thoroughly washed and
made into bread and into soup. The bitterness
finally soaks out OF the moss after II has been
washed several times and left In water for twenty
four hours II may then be slowly simmered In
milk, TO which It imparts It's thickening qualities
When the blanc mango Is thick enough TO FORM
sweeten t. and flavor It with little lemon peel
o. boil thin slices OF yellow lemon peel In the milk
with the moss Pour the blanc mango into mould
TO cool.
A handful OF the moss washed until II Is freed
from its bitterness and boiled in "A good beef stock
makes soup resembling in its nutritious gclatlnous
qualities the famous bird-nest soup OF which the
principle constituent Is a species Of alga, or sea-
weed, employed by the Javanese swallow to build
its nest by the cliffs Of the sea. The poor natives
Of Iceland. 1t Is said. make broth by boiling the
Cetrari Islandica in water alone The Iceland moss
found in New-England fields does not come TO fruit
and does not have any bitterness.
The Iceland moss which grows at Alpine heights
In this country, bears fruit, and, like that IN the
shops which is brought from Norway and Iceland,
Is intensely bitter.
The color OF Iceland moss is olive brown and
grayish green. 1t is light on the under side and
a little reddish sometimes at the base Of the frond
In It's general form Cetraria is not unlike other
lchens. We believe this is the edible llchen of com
mercc.
There are other llchens of our Helds and rocL.
known TO be rich In lchen starch but they have
never been employed for food In the barren parts
O, Northern Asia certain nomad tribes cal Iecanora
escuenta a nutritious lichen. but IL has never heen
an article OF commerce. The reindeer moss or Ian
land and other countries furnishes the herbare
of the peasant and food for his rclndeers "''""h'
Jcelan nd moss Is sold. dried at drugstores NJ ohou,
FIVE cents for quar-; measure In bulk The sale
is limited. 1t is little used to-day EXCEPT for hlanc
mango By Oll-fash. med cooks who esieon 4, tnr
its tonic powers In colds. II Is recalled most fre
ouently to-day by the familiar Homemade coneh
soothing. but II IS now known to produce no she
cial effect IN consumption, as II was once thonrbt
10 do. IL has been successfully to thicken
chocolate, and II could no doubt be advantageoslv
employed 10 thicken soups and stews, as IL wouId
impart favor OF It's own II properly washed
Irish moss. eanageen. which IL often used no
a substitute for Iceland moss Is not lchen but a
seaweed alga There are many edible algas
which furnish food for man az well for Holsters
crabs and other mollusks and creatures OF. the sea
Like the Cctraria OF commerce, the canagccn grows
In New-England and on the seashorc Of northern
portions Of our continent.
The fronds OF Iceland moss are erect. and vary
from two to four inches In height. The common fiat
lchens OF rocks must not be mistaken for H.
The edges of its fronds are also frnged or celiate