agar

Agar or agar agar is a gelatinous substance derived from the seaweed Gelidium amansii. It is used as an ingredient in desserts throughout Japan, and lately has found extensive use as a solid substrate to contain culture medium for microbiological work. 
The gelling agent agar (agar agar) can be used as a laxative, a vegetarian gelatin substitute, a thickener for soups, in jellies, and in ice cream.

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