Seaweed

Konbu is a dried seaweed sold in 18-inch to 3-foot-long (45 to 90 cm) strips that have been folded over themselves for easy packaging. The best konbu comes from the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido and is usually covered with a white, delicate, salt-like dust. Along with dried bonito, konbu is the basis for the basic broth dashi, common to most Japanese broth-like sauces.