Fjallagrös

Icelandic moss - for drinking

Icelandic moss ("Fjallagrös") is a relatively low but very tough shrub lichen.

The moss is repeatedly recommended in old books on Icelandic medicine - as a remedy for diarrhea, gastrointestinal problems and nausea, as a strengthening potion, for inflammation of the mouth and throat and lung problems, but also as a remedy for stubborn skin diseases such as acne - However, you should drink three cups of fresh, pure moss tea every day over a longer period of time.

The moss is collected in late summer and autumn in dry weather and then slowly dried in a dark place so that the medicinally effective ingredients (probably bitter substances, acids and mucilage, but also iodine and vitamins A, B1 and B12) are preserved as well as possible.

 

 

Moss tea

To make moss tea, take a small amount of dried moss, let it boil in fresh water for about 10 minutes and then steep the whole thing for at least half an hour.

It is said that only after this time does the tea develop its optimal effect.

By the way, the tea looks pretty unexciting and doesn't smell particularly intense - and in terms of taste, it basically starts with "spinach" and ends slightly with "peppermint" in the aftertaste. So it's more interesting than I expected at first sip!

Moss milk

Bring a cup of milk to the boil and add a small amount of washed moss. Let the moss cook in the milk for about 2 - 3 minutes, then add a small pinch of salt and a little sugar.

Then drink the warm moss milk directly in small sips.

By the way, the moss milk tastes surprisingly harmless, it just looks a bit unusual.

[Translated from here.]