Spirulina Powder | Arthrospira platensis

What Is Spirulina Powder?

Spirulina is a microscopic, spiral-shaped blue-green organism that grows in warm, alkaline freshwater lakes. Although it is often called blue-green algae, scientists classify it as a cyanobacterium. The species sold as spirulina is Arthrospira platensis, often still labeled Spirulina platensis.

Spirulina has been eaten for centuries. The Aztecs harvested it from Lake Texcoco in Mexico and made it into cakes called tecuitlatl, and the Kanembu people around Lake Chad in Africa still collect it and dry it into cakes known as dihé.

Today spirulina is grown in clean, controlled ponds, harvested, dried and milled into a fine, deep blue-green powder. It is naturally rich in protein and is one of the most popular green powders in the world. Its color comes from chlorophyll and phycocyanin, a natural blue pigment.

Spirulina powder has a mild, sea-like and slightly earthy taste that blends well with fruit, especially banana, pineapple, mango and berries. It is used in smoothies, juices, smoothie bowls, energy balls, dips and pesto, and as a natural green color for frosting, pasta and popcorn. A little goes a long way, both in color and in flavor.

Our spirulina powder contains only spirulina with nothing added. It is sold by weight, from small packs to bulk.