Agar

Agar (pronounced /ˈeɪɡɑː/, US /ˈɑːɡər/, "AH-gər") or agar-agar (/ˈeɪɡɑːˈeɪɡɑː/, /ˈɑːɡərˈɑːɡər/, "AH-gər-AH-gər") is a jelly-like substance, obtained from algae. It was discovered in the late 1650s or early 1660s by Mino Tarōzaemon (美濃 太郎左衛門) in Japan, where it is called kanten (寒天).