A few weeks ago, I was watching a TV program about food production around the world and they had a segment on spirulina.  It’s a form of bacteria (blue-green algae) that is supposed to be an excellent source of protein, vitamins, and essential fatty acids as well as possibly having health benefits related to everything from HIV to hay fever.  They are growing it as a possible low-cost food for people in developing countries because it is very energy efficient, low on the food chain, and can be grown in brackish water. On the show, they mixed spirulina powder with some kind of lime drink.  The host of the show said that it wasn’t bad.  So of course I ordered some. 

It came in the mail today.  It smells like a cross between hamster pellets and fish flakes and it’s dark green to the point of looking black.  Even when diluted with some fruit juice, it’s still really really green.  “It’s super green because of all of the nutrients,” I reasoned with myself while preparing to drink a glass or something that looked like pond scum.  And it looks exactly like pond scum because that’s what it is.

Half way through my first gulp, I thought about the movie “Soilent Green”, and the food supplement that leads to the film’s climax.  Is this stuff made for people in developing countries or made from people in developing countries?  No, it’s just pond scum and that’s gross enough.

But really, it wasn’t bad.  With the fruit juice, it tastes a bit earthy, but not fishy or hamstery.  I plan to use the rest of the powder that I ordered and try it some recipes.  Spirulina omelets perhaps?  I’m not sure yet, but if I show up to the Halloween Party with green cookies, you might want to think twice before taking one.

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