Which green seaweed powder is often sprinkled on ramen?

Aonori is the green seaweed powder often sprinkled on ramen. It is made from dried green laver and adds a vivid color, a lightly salty ocean flavor, and a distinctive aroma to hot dishes.

In Japan, aonori is also closely associated with okonomiyaki and takoyaki, where it is dusted over the surface alongside ingredients such as bonito flakes and mayonnaise. It is commonly sold as fine powder or tiny flakes, rather than the dark, rectangular sheets used for sushi.

A common mix-up is treating aonori and nori as identical. Nori usually refers to the darker seaweed sheets made from red algae, while aonori traditionally refers to green laver and is used more like a finishing herb. Some inexpensive products marketed as aonori-style seasoning may use related green seaweeds or blended ingredients.

Ramen shops may also garnish bowls with nori sheets, wakame, or other sea vegetables, so not every green seaweed topping is aonori. The clue is the fine, bright-green powder sprinkled over the finished bowl.