There is seaweed that tastes like bacon, and it's good for you

Vegetarians, rejoice: there is a new superfood out there that has all the juicy flavour of bacon, but is actually seaweed.

It even looks like bacon.

Researchers from Oregon State University have recently patented dulse, a strain of algae that is full of minerals and protein and - they say - tastes just like bacon.

Varieties of dulse have been marketed as a dried, powdery health food supplement for a while, but the scientists hope that their extra-tasty fresh new strain will take off commercially.

Dulse has twice the nutritional value of kale, and is OK for vegan diets.

"There hasn’t been a lot of interest in using it in a fresh form. But this stuff is pretty amazing,” chief researcher Chris Langdon said. “When you fry it, which I have done, it tastes like bacon, not seaweed. And it’s a pretty strong bacon flavour.”

The Oregon State research team is working with agriculture specialists to figure out how to farm dulse wholesale.

What a time to be alive.

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