Asakusa Nori is most commonly referred to as “seaweed” though this is a misnomer. It is laver, a type of sea vegetation, which is rinsed, chopped and then laid upon a rectangular frame to be dried. Thin, crisp sheets of very dark laver result. Packaged in tins or cellophane, the sheets are a standard 6 by 10 inches though these may be folded in half. After opening, store any leftovers in an airtight canister along with the anti-moisture pellets that come with the original package. Although dried laver does not spoil easily it does lose its aroma quickly. Keeping it in the freezer, though, helps to preserve the original quality. Laver defrosts almost instantaneously but should be dry roasted before use. Return to the freezer any sheets not to be used that day. Laver may be frozen for up to 3 months.
