Thick, wide strips of kombu are commonly used to flavour Japanese soups, noodle broths and stocks (dashi). Kombu contains natural glutamic acid - an umami-providing amino acid - that draws out the taste of other foods. A strip of kombu cooked with beans helps to soften them and improve digestibility. Kombu is a Japanese variety of kelp with pronounced culinary appeal. Whilst a lot of Japanese kombu is cultivated nowadays, Clearspring kombu is harvested wild in the cold waters off Hidaka in Hokkaido, Japan's northern island. Wild Hidaka kombu is considered a premium grade, being prized both for its tenderness, enabling it to be used as a vegetable, and for its exceptional flavouring ability. Clearspring Kombu is Laminaria japonica, sustainably wild harvested and dried in Japan.
