Japanese Seaweed Cookies

Most people think cookies are sweet. We wanted to try a savory one. We created these Japanese seaweed cookies. The flavor comes from seaweed grown in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan. That area is famous for its soft and fresh seaweed. We roast the seaweed and cut it into 1 to 3mm flakes. Then we mix it directly into the dough. Seaweed makes up 5% of every cookie. When you break one open, you can see the dark green flakes. It is real, quality ingredients.

We tested the balance of salt and sweetness hundreds of times. The total sugar is about 22%. The sodium is controlled to under 300mg per 100g. This is a low sodium level. The cookie does not taste too salty. Seaweed contains a compound called guanylate. When it mixes with the glutamate in the cookie, it increases the umami flavor by 30%. This creates a rich, savory taste.

We make this cookie in two sizes. One is a small round disc, 35mm wide. It is a one-bite snack. The other is an oval shape, 50mm long and 30mm wide. It looks great on a plate. We also tested it with tea. We put it in hot water for 5 seconds. It did not get soft right away. It is a great snack to serve with tea. Seaweed easily absorbs moisture. We use a high-barrier packaging with a low moisture vapor transmission rate. It stays fresh for 10 months in a cool, dry place.