Dilse (Palmaria palmata) is a reid algae that growes on the northren coasts o the Atlantic an Pacific ocean. Dilse haes laither-like blads up tae 30 cm lang an 20 cm braid. The aulder blads micht be splitten.
Dilse can be etten an is a guid soorce o meenerals an veetamins compeart tae ither vegetables, mair oot ower it conteins aw the trace elements needit for humans wi a heich protein content.
It is for ordinar fund frae Juin tae September an can be ingaithert by haund whan the tide is oot. Whan ingaithert, wee snail, bitties o shell an ither wee pairticles can be wuishen or shakken aff an the plaunt syne spreid oot tae dry. Some gaitherers micht turn it ance an rowe it intae lairge turses for tae be packit efter. In some kintras it is uised as fother for ainimals an aw.
In Northren Ireland, Iceland an Atlantic Canadae, dilse is uised as baith fuid and medicine. It can be fund in mony halth fuid shops or fish mercats. In Ballycastle, Northren Ireland, it's tradeetionally selt at the Auld Lammas Fair. Ae sort o dulse is cultivatit in Nova Scotia an mercatit as Sea Persel, selt caller in the produce section. Dilse is nou shippit athort the warld. In Northren Ireland it is parteecular weel-likit alang the Causey Coast. Awtho a dwynin tradeetion, there's mony that aye gaithers their ain dilse.
