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virus1824
Mr Mushroom



Registered: 09/25/05
Posts: 1,751
Loc: Europe
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Agar sticks
#14079791 - 03/07/11 06:56 AM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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Since i had the feeling that i was being ripped off big time at my health food store i decided to walk into china town and check every Indian/Chinese supermarket i could find for agar agar.
what i learned was astonishing! Damn cheap live lobsters! But i am getting off-topic.
I found very cheap 12gram packs of agar agar for a buck. Nice colors like red/green/yellow and brown. already 2 bucks cheaper than my previous vendor.
Then in the last supermarket i saw this

Agar strands 42 grams for 1 buck 20 or something.
Did a little search and ironically enough Agar wrote this:
Quote:
If using strands or sticks, soak in cold water for an hour, drain, bring to the boil in the measured amount of water and simmer until dissolved. Sugar, flavoring and coloring are added and it sets as a firm jelly without refrigeration, even in tropical climates. It is the base for the famous Almond Bean Curd, Coconut Jelly, Awayuki and numerous other sweets throughout Asia.
Now my question is, since this post has been made 4 years ago. Does anyone use strands of agar? Is the powdered form superior? Does anyone have good or bad experiences from using strands. If you use it, do you still use the method described above? If not which method do you prefer and why?
I thank you all for reading.
-------------------- A weekend wasted is never a wasted weekend
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Sounds like a fun store!
I haven't used the sticks, but I remember somebody saying you can just grind them in a coffee grinder and then you have flakes or powder.
Same place with the sticks should have the little packs of Telephone Brand though? Or Gold Cup? Also, the colored agar is great fun, get some of that too. Oh, and get some of the dessert agar and try eating it, post a report.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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virus1824
Mr Mushroom



Registered: 09/25/05
Posts: 1,751
Loc: Europe
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Re: Agar sticks [Re: Doc_T]
#14079858 - 03/07/11 07:23 AM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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Yea it was quite a hard experience to be honest. All these kinds of funky colored agar. I bought orange powdered agar since i was standing there for 15 minutes already. I would feel bad if i didn't take at least one home. I was aiming for green but with green mold and all it didn't seem like a good choice.
Just read the back and i got the "Swallow Globe" Best before "OCT 2010". lol goddamn I did see the dessert agar. i'l take that home and report back next time.
-------------------- A weekend wasted is never a wasted weekend
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Swallow Globe, good stuff. I got green and red last time.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Quote:
virus1824 said: Yea it was quite a hard experience to be honest. All these kinds of funky colored agar.
I can see you next time getting two or three of each type. Walk up to the register with like $25 worth of agar and nothing else.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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virus1824
Mr Mushroom



Registered: 09/25/05
Posts: 1,751
Loc: Europe
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Re: Agar sticks [Re: Doc_T]
#14079888 - 03/07/11 07:37 AM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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It would make me look all the more professional towards my friends with all those colored petri dishes 
I think next time i'l walk about with allot of agar indeed, and a live lobster. That'll give those Chinese something to ponder about
-------------------- A weekend wasted is never a wasted weekend
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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"Pops, some white guy just bought twenty packs of agar and a lobster- wtf!"
"Goddamn hippies. Get the munchies and eat agar by the cup. "
Edit- check this post/pic by NoobieShroomie: http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/11154722#11154722
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KingMob
Un-connoisseur



Registered: 10/24/10
Posts: 115
Loc: Barbelith
Last seen: 1 year, 15 days
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Quote:
virus1824 said: It would make me look all the more professional towards my friends with all those colored petri dishes 
I think next time i'l walk about with allot of agar indeed, and a live lobster. That'll give those Chinese something to ponder about 
Fresh Orange Lobster Jelly?!?!
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virus1824
Mr Mushroom



Registered: 09/25/05
Posts: 1,751
Loc: Europe
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Re: Agar sticks [Re: KingMob]
#14079933 - 03/07/11 07:54 AM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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exactly!
-------------------- A weekend wasted is never a wasted weekend
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biologys
Mycologist in Trainning




Registered: 12/21/09
Posts: 4,622
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Re: Agar sticks [Re: Doc_T]
#14079939 - 03/07/11 07:55 AM (12 years, 11 months ago) |
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when using sticks or strands i just bring my water to a boil, put in agar and reduce heat to a simmer, it disolves it perfectly fine then mix in other ingredients get it mixed up good cut off and then pour in a jar to be PC'd.
no grinding needed.
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virus1824
Mr Mushroom



Registered: 09/25/05
Posts: 1,751
Loc: Europe
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thanks bio! This will save me heaps of money Damn expensive health food stores ripping you off Though i am gonna buy some of those color agar agar for the fun of it. I also saw some food coloring. Perhaps a nice future test would be to see if the myclium would absorb that and take its color
-------------------- A weekend wasted is never a wasted weekend
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biologys
Mycologist in Trainning




Registered: 12/21/09
Posts: 4,622
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negative...
alot of ppl just use normal food coloring in their agar, and the mycelium or mushrooms will not absorb it, people have even tried injecting colored water into their sub's while fruiting, and misting with colored water, none worked.
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