The process of treating sea algae/halophytes. The sea algae/halophyte in an aqueous solution containing an acid is soaked for a sufficient length of time to substantially reduce the mineral content of the sea algae/halophyte. The initial mineral content is expressed on the basis of the total ash content of the untreated sea algae/halophyte in the dried state. The soak-treated sea algae is separated from the aqueous solution. The separated sea algae/halophyte can be dried to provide a dried sea algae/halophyte product having substantially reduced mineral content and increased nutritional value.