| Caulerpa lentillifera | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Bryopsidophyceae |
| Order: | Bryopsidales |
| Family: | Caulerpaceae |
| Genus: | Caulerpa |
| Species: | C. lentillifera |
| Binomial name | |
| Caulerpa lentillifera J. Agardh |
|
Caulerpa lentillifera is one of the favored species of edible Caulerpa due to its soft and succulent texture. They are also known as sea grapes, green caviar, "ar-arosep", or "lato" in the Philippines. C. lentillifera is farmed in the Philippines and in Okinawa where the plant is eaten fresh.[1]
The pond cultivation of C. lentillifera has been very successful on Mactan Island, Cebu, in the central Philippines, with markets in Cebu and Manila. About 400 ha of ponds are under cultivation, producing 12-15 tonnes of fresh seaweed per hectare per year. C. lentillifera is also eaten in Okinawa, where it is known as umi-budō (海ぶどう), meaning "sea grapes".
C. lentillifera is usually eaten raw with vinegar, as a snack or in a salad.