Sea moss, a popular drink in the Caribbean and among locals caused much debate during the Tamerry manslaughter trial, which ended yesterday.

However, during the trial not much was revealed about the jelly-like drink.

Dr. Amenemhat Waset Amen-Ra Tamerry, 48, and his wife Maatkai Hatsheput Tamerry, 36, were convicted for unlawfully killing their daughter A'Maya, whom they regularly fed sea moss.

The couple were convicted by a unanimous jury decision on Wednesday and now face possible life imprisonment.

Over the course of the trial it emerged that the couple were warned on a number of occasions to stop feeding their baby sea moss.

The child died at ten months of age from a slew of malnutrition and neglect related illnesses.

Sea moss or Irish moss is sold in numerous convenience stores and grocery stores across the Island and is reputed to be an aphrodisiac. The promise of male potency has made the drink popular.

Some shop owners import ready-made sea moss drinks while others utilise locally-made versions.

There are numerous ways to make sea moss. The most common ingredients are Carrageenan (sea weed), milk, linseed, and a sweetener like vanilla or nutmeg, according to numerous manufactures.

According to the website www.gettingwell.com, Linseed is a remedy for constipation and is used to soothe irritated stomachs, intestines and the bladder.

It is also applied externally to combat skin inflammation. In homoeopathic medicine, it's used for throat and lung problems. Asian medicine lists it as a remedy for chest congestion, diarrhoea, gonorrhoea, and irritation of the urinary tract. Aside from its use as a laxative, however, its effectiveness remains unproven.

Carrageenan, derived from red sea weed, is used as a stabiliser and thickener in many different foods.

An article by Environmental News Network written in 2001, said that for decades carrageenan was believed to be safe to eat, however research from a medical doctor on the faculty of the University of Iowa said that it could cause cancer.

Dr. Joanne Tobacman said: “Evidence from animal models has demonstrated that degraded carrageenan causes ulcerations and malignancies in the gastrointestinal tract.

“There was evidence back in the 1970s that carrageenan has harmful effects, and I think we've waited too long to act on that information,” she said.

However, carrageenan is considered an excellent remedy for tuberculosis, coughs, bronchitis, and intestinal problems, according to Independent Distributor Metro Marketing, Inc. located in Georgia, US.

In Bermuda, the Jamaican Grill makes their own sea moss by boiling the sea weed and mixing it with linseed, isinglass (form of gelatine that comes from the air bladders of certain fish), vanilla, nutmeg, and milk.

Manager of Jamaican Grill, Ranville Thomas, who makes the concoction, said that the drink is popular among men but some women drink it too.

The ingredients come from Canada and New York, he added.

“I boil it and it becomes like a jelly,” he said.

Jamaican Grill sells 16-ounce bottles of sea moss for $6 per bottle.

Mr. Thomas said it is a very popular drink which tastes like “Cream of Wheat”.

Arnold's Family Market manager Alzira Amaral said that she sells sea moss for $5.50 a bottle and it is popular among men and woman, young and old.

She told The Royal Gazette that she gets the sea moss drink locally from The Silver Spoon restaurant. On the ingredient label it reads - sea moss and nuts. No one at Silver Spoon could be reached for comment.

Arnold's in Somerset sell pre-made sea moss from Butterfield Enterprise for $1.75 a bottle.

Manager Tony Marrocco said that mostly older men buy it.

He added that he used to get it from a local supplier, who's name he did not know, but “he stopped coming around,” said Mr. Marrocco.

Twins Variety also sell sea moss but would not reveal what local supplier they get it from.

An employee at The Caribbean Food Mart told The Royal Gazette that sea moss can also be made by boiling the sea weed in water, and adding Supligen (a milk based energy drink by Nestle), vanilla, linseed, and a sweetener.

She said that The Caribbean Food Mart sell locally made sea moss by a lady who is know only as Ms Robinson.

Ms Robinson was unable to be reached for comment.

An employee at Down to Earth Health Food Store, Ammuaakhu Sahnera, said: “I like it. But I haven't been successful in making it.”

He described it as a jelly substance that is usually sweet, however, he prefers it bland.

He added that it is supposed to build up sperm count and that men are the most common consumers. Mr. Sahnera said it is rare to see children or teens drink it.

He described it as a “back food”, which means that it helps produce sperm.

Mr. Sahnera said that about five years ago, Down to Earth sold the “loose moss” which you make yourself.

According to the sixth issue of Sea Moss, the student literary journal of the University of the Virgin Islands, many people claim that sea moss is an effective cure for ulcers and stomach aches.