Chlorella Powder
A single-celled freshwater algae ground into a fine green powder so concentrated that a single teaspoon turns a smoothie the color of a lawn.
What It Is
Chlorella is a microscopic algae, not a plant, that has been cultivated in fresh water across East Asia for decades as a dense whole food. The powder is simply the dried, cracked cells. Nothing added.
The color is startling, a deep matte green, and the flavor is earthy and mildly oceanic, closer to a pond than to the sea. It has traditionally been stirred into drinks and foods in Japan and Taiwan, where it is treated as a concentrated everyday supplement rather than a seasoning.
What To Do
Start small. Half a teaspoon in a fruit smoothie is plenty for a first try. Banana, pineapple, or mango do the most to round out the algae flavor. You can also whisk it into a green salad dressing or mix it into energy balls with oats and honey.
Chlorella powder clumps in moisture, so keep it sealed and dry. A cool, dark cabinet works fine. One bag goes a long way at the amounts most people use.
