Skin Benefit
Antioxidant-rich; calms redness, nourishes, helps clear acne, supports firmness.
Spiritual Benefit
Long viewed as energizing, cleansing, and vitality-raising.
The record
In use for 500+ years
Origin
Alkaline lakes, famously Lake Texcoco in Mexico and Lake Chad in Africa.
Harvested
Skimmed from the water's surface, sun-dried into cakes, and ground.
Cultural impact
Aztec harvesters sold tecuitlatl cakes in the markets of Tenochtitlan, and Kanembu women around Lake Chad still dry dihe on the sand today.
Traditional use
Eaten as a staple protein, and lending its deep blue-green to skin preparations as one of the most concentrated plants on earth.
