Researchers at the Oregon State University (OSU) have developed a new strain of seaweed that tastes like bacon and could potentially be the latest health food sensation in the future.

Dulse (pronounced like pulse), is an edible seaweed which grows naturally along the Pacific and Atlantic coastline. Over the years, they are harvested, dried and used as cooking ingredients or as nutritional supplement. The new strain that the OSU team has cultivated however, can be farmed and consumed fresh, The Christian Science Monitor reported.

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The translucent red lettuce-looking marine algae is reportedly very rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants — even twice as nutritious as kale.

Scientists at OSU have been attempting to create a new strain of seaweed for more than 15 years.  Originally, they intend to create a super food for commercially grow abalone - a mollusk of high value in Asia, Live Science has learned.

When fed to abalones, the "sea snails" grew very rapidly thus the seaweed is currently used in a commercial scale in a Hawaiian abalone operation.

Through a product development team at OSU's Food Innovation Center, researchers realized the dulse's potential as a health food sensation. They initially experimented with dulse-based human recipes like salad dressing and rice crackers.

The team received a grant from the Oregon Department of Agriculture and a culinary research chef was added to the group to allow them to further explore the seaweed's edibility, as per CBC News.

"There hasn't been a lot of interest in using it in a fresh form. But this stuff is pretty amazing," chief researcher Chris Langdon said. "When you fry it, which I have done, it tastes like bacon, not seaweed. And it's a pretty strong bacon flavor."

As of the moment, dulse is not grown commercially for human consumption in the U.S. and fresh, high-quality seaweed is not always available.

"The dulse grows using a water recirculation system," explaind Dr. Langdon. "Theoretically, you could create an industry in eastern Oregon almost as easily as you could along the coast with a bit of supplementation. You just need a modest amount of seawater and some sunshine."

Tagsbacon, Seaweed, Dulse, abalone, Study