Tag: Cetraria islandica

Despite its name, Icelandic moss is actually a lichen, a symbiotic organism of algae and fungus. Historically a vital survival food in Nordic regions, this lichen raises the important question: is Icelandic moss edible for modern consumption and how should it be prepared?

Icelandic moss, or *Cetraria islandica*, is actually a lichen—a symbiotic organism of fungi and algae—and not a true moss, having been a traditional medicinal remedy and food source in Scandinavian cultures for centuries. This unique organism, thriving in cold northern climates, has been valued for its unique nutritional and therapeutic properties.