Spirulina
Spirulina is a blue-green freshwater algae that turns anything you add it to a deep, swampy green. The flavor is mild and faintly oceanic.
What It Is
Spirulina is technically a cyanobacterium, a microscopic organism that has been eaten for centuries, most famously harvested from lakes in Mexico and Chad. It is one of the oldest food sources on earth. The powder has an earthy, slightly seaweed-like taste that is easy to hide in the right vehicle.
The color is dramatic and completely natural. A single teaspoon will turn a smoothie a vivid green-gray. It has been used in food coloring for that reason, showing up in everything from pasta to frosting in cuisines that lean on plant-based dyes.
What To Do
The easiest use is a smoothie: one teaspoon blended with frozen banana, pineapple, and milk of choice. The sweetness keeps the algae flavor in the background. You can also stir it into a salad dressing, whisk it into hummus, or mix it into homemade energy balls with oats and honey.
Go easy at first. Start with half a teaspoon and work up from there, since the flavor gets more noticeable the more you use. Store it in a sealed container away from light and heat, and it will keep well for months.
