FBC regulars have come to expect great things from our conference goodie bags and we can promise you this year you won’t be disappointed.
We’re very pleased to announce one of this year’s contributors will be Mara Seaweed (@maraseaweed) with their delicious and incredibly healthy “superfood of the sea”. Trust us, you’re going to love it. That’s if you’re not a huge fan already.
Mara Seaweed was launched in 2011, inspired by founders’ Xa Milne and Fiona Houston’s mutual passion for wild edibles, which they have documented in their brilliant family foraging book Seaweed and Eat It.
Teaming up with Rory MacPhee, a former Cornish seaweed harvester and ex marine lawyer, they have collaborated closely with professional chefs to develop this incredible dried, ground seaweed with an extended shelf life, using artisan, low-tech production methods. Chefs love it as it's so exciting and versatile to work with: a premium product yet so very natural in its concept.
Mara Seaweed is a proving a big hit with a wide range of retailers, from flagship stores like Harrods to farmer’s markets and everything in between. The guys at Mara can’t wait to hear what you think!
We caught up with Mara Seaweed’s co-founder and brand director, Xa Milne, to find out more...
 

Why were you keen to connect with bloggers at #FBC15?
I was interested in getting Bethany Kehdy to work with our product and I realised that #FBC15 was a great way of casting the net wider. So our seaweed samples will be in the goodie bags, beautifully branded and well packaged and we hope they will create a stir, particularly as seaweed is listed as a new food trend for 2015!
So why should we be so excited about Mara Seaweed?
Seaweed is the superfood of the sea. It’s the new kale! A food with humble origins and a big future.  Just one spoonful of seaweed gives you your daily dose of essential vitamins and minerals. Little and often can make a big difference.
It is rich in iodine, which has direct implications for most western women who are deficient. It’s one of the few sources of B12 available to vegetarians, and it helps absorption of fat, making it ideal for weight loss, lowering cholesterol, and it’s good for the heart. And it’s super rich in iron - 6g of dulse seaweed is equivalent in iron to 100g of sirloin steak.
Could you share a favourite seaweed recipe?
Our signature dish would definitely feature seaweed as a seasoning. It’s especially wonderful with eggs - the ultimate healthy comfort food.

Have you worked with many bloggers to date?
We don’t have time to engage as fully with bloggers as we would like. The attempts we’ve made have not always been successful – chefs support us and publicise the fact they are using our product, but for some reason, not bloggers. We are keen to share samples and let our product be judged on its own merits.
How would you like to work with bloggers in future?
We would particularly like to work with female bloggers who focus on healthy, nutritious recipes which taste good. Seaweed has many outstanding health properties that help women, such as being rich in iodine (good for diets, thyroid, hair, skin, fertility, menopause), as well as many other vitamins, minerals and nutrients essential for life. The health benefits are too many to list!
The areas we are into exploring with our product are primarily healthy fast food and nutrition. We are interested in simple recipes; increasingly, vegetarian recipes, as well as twists on classic sweets, treats or meat dishes. And we are planning a competition to create the perfect street food using seaweed.
How can other non-registered bloggers get their hands on your product?
Visit our website www.maraseaweed.com – you’ll find retail outlets listed on there too. We are also distributed through Suma, Infinity, CLF, Cress, Greencity and Wellocks.
And you can follow us on Twitter at @maraseaweed and Facebook at Mara Seaweed.