In this blog, I will discuss the fucoidan and the places where it is produced. You can call it a producing district. So, you might be wondering which fucoidan is better. It’s true, people often argue about which fucoidan is better quality, especially the area. Among many places you will hear, Tonga mozuku or Okinawa mozuku. Some people claim Tonga mozuku extracted fucoidan is better than Okinawa mozuku extracted fucoidan.

According to the NPO Research Institute of fucoidan in Japan, fucoidan from both places are good. However, Tonga mozuku is originally Okinawa mozuku, which means Tonga cultivated Okinawa mozuku in the Tonga Ocean and grows them. That is why both are known as Okinawa mozuku.

Mozuku is scientifically known as Cladosiphon okamuranus. It has been farmed for more than 35 years in Okinawa. 99 % of mozuku is produced in Okinawa, almost entirely farmed by humans now.

By the NPO Research Institute of fucoidan in Japan, Fucoidan extraction from Okinawa mozuku has the advantage that freshly harvested mozuku can be processed immediately. On the other hand, Tonga does not have factories nearby. So, they have to be shipped to factories in other countries. Once the mozuku is harvested in Tonga, it is sent either salted or frozen over many days. After they reached in factories, the salt is then removed or defrosted as the first step. Therefore, the quality of mozuku will slightly decrease.

Fucoidan in both Okinawa and Tonga are extracted through these processes. Thus, I think by comparing the quality of the fucoidan that produced in Okinawa and the fucoidan from Tonga, Tonga fucoidan’s quality is slightly lesser but still possess the same value.

Uniquely, Okinawa has cooperated with the Marine Genomics Unit of the Okinawa Institute and Technology Graduate University (OIST) to develop a variety of mozuku that can thrive in warm waters or hotter climate. And later on, it is possible to develop a more resistant variety of mozuku. The technology of marine genomics will continue to get more advanced for harvesting the best quality Okinawa mozuku fucoidan.

In conclusion, I would like to share my point of view. It is better to take fucoidan extracted from Okinawa mozuku in Okinawa instead of Tonga mozuku because of research and freshness.