If you believe in or live by the saying “survival of the fittest—or the most adaptable,” this unassuming blue-green food may pique your interest.

As one of the earliest life forms on Earth, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) has existed long before us and continues to thrive to this day. More than just an edible blue-green algae — or “aqua botanical” — this nutrient-dense organism offers exceptional support for remineralizing our often-depleted bodies. In its closest-to-natural form that we can access from home, the folks at E3Live have mastered the art of harvesting and preserving this ancient, life-enhancing food.

However, to truly appreciate its potential, it’s essential to understand its origins — and why that matters.

The Algae’s Pristine Home: Upper Klamath Lake

Located in southern Oregon at an elevation of 4,100 feet above sea level, Upper Klamath Lake is a high desert body of water with a remarkable origin story. Nearly 8,000 years ago, the cataclysmic eruption of Mount Mazama (which left behind the now-iconic Crater Lake 40 miles to the north) blanketed the region in volcanic ash. That ancient eruption deposited millions of tons of mineral-rich material, forming the nutrient-dense foundation of Klamath’s lakebed.

Today, this alkaline lake spans approximately 140 square miles with an average depth of just 8 feet — shallow enough for sunlight to penetrate deeply yet vast sufficient to support an extraordinary ecosystem. Seventeen rivers flow into the lake, depositing an estimated 50,000 tons of mineral-rich silt annually from a 4,000-square-mile volcanic basin. This has created one of the most mineral-rich aquatic environments on Earth — a naturally occurring nutrient trap that cannot be artificially replicated.

Protected by the Cascade Mountains to the northwest and bordered by high desert sagebrush to the south and east, the lake benefits from roughly 300 days of sunlight per year — ideal conditions for the flourishing of wild AFA algae. This wild strain, thriving in pristine waters free of heavy metals, pesticides, and other toxins, grows abundantly in the lake’s mineral-rich and alkaline environment.

A Rare and Potent Superfood

Under these optimal natural conditions, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae can reproduce approximately every 20 minutes during peak growth periods. This rapid regeneration supports a naturally sustainable harvest — rare for wild foods — and ensures continued abundance without disrupting the lake’s delicate ecosystem.

With its pristine source and extraordinary capacity for renewal, wild AFA is not only one of Earth’s oldest life forms — it remains one of its most generously replenishing.