La Patrona: organic seaweeds of European origin

The story behind La patrona

The Spanish Cristina García is the founder of Algas La Patrona, a company that has been growing organic seaweeds since mid-2018 in the Rías Baixas, a coastal region in southern Galicia. As a child, Cristina fell in love with the sea when she watched Cousteau's documentaries. As a result, she became involved in the conservation and sustainable development of fisheries resources and the fishing industry. Seaweed is one of the most nutritious and tasty food sources that the waters of the Galician estuaries have to offer. La Patrona harvests them with the utmost respect and care.

La Patrona enhances the female figure of the sea, which is particularly important in Galicia and is represented by the patron saints, shellfish and canneries. In this project I am the skipper of a boat and I decided to name the company after myself, to empower and pay tribute to the (female) sea worker - Cristina García

Why buy La Patrona seaweed?

✔ Dried algae are of European origin
✔ Seaweed contains a high content of minerals and vitamins
✔ Compostable Packaging
✔ Raw: dried below 40°C
✔ 100% organic (many algae are not)

Learn about La Patrona's nutritious seaweeds...

Algae are rich in minerals (including iodine) and vitamins

Seaweeds are known for their high content of minerals and vitamins. They are rich in soluble dietary fiber, minerals (iodine, potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, calcium) and vitamins (A, B1, B2, B9, B12, C, E). In addition, algae are low in fat and contain about 40% dietary fiber, which helps to remove waste products. They can be used raw in salads, tartare, wraps, pizzas, pies, stir-fries, sauces or in stews, casseroles, soups, broths, rice, pasta. One square meter of the Galician estuaries is good for about 2.5 kg of fresh seaweed, which weighs 240 grams after dehydration.

If one wants to build a ship, one should not begin by gathering wood, sawing planks, and dividing work, but arouse in women and men the longing for the vast and endless sea. - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Seaweed harvested by hand and packed in biodegradable packaging

The various seaweeds are harvested by hand in the Galician estuaries, washed, dehydrated and packed by La patrona in biodegradable packaging, free of plastic. Harvesting is done on foot or by diving at a shallow depth and using a boat. The algae are cut off, leaving the rhizoid (root) so they can continue to grow. Part of the seaweed population is always partially left intact. After cutting, the seaweed is left to rest for a few weeks until it has grown back and so on. In this way, the durability of the algae is guaranteed.

Get to know some products in compostable packaging from La Patrona