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Trading and uses of kelp in Thailand

Trading and uses of kelp in Thailand photo
Kelp for sale in a Chinese medicine shop.
Kelp, genus Laminaria, is a cold water plant, and hence does not grow in Thailand. Although Thai people do not know much about this seaweed group, it is sold in the Thai-Chinese community, especially in Chinatown (Yaowarat) in East Bangkok. Kelp is traded in its dried form, and is imported from main land China. There are two uses for kelp; one is for cooking and the other is in Chinese medicine. The Yaowarat vendor sells them folded at their stacked weight 0.5-1.0 kg, costing about 250 Baht per kg.