TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best Sea Salt Types in the World
Sel de Guérande and Fleur de sel de Guérande are types of sea salt from the salt marshes of the Guérande peninsula in France. The salt is hand harvested and additive-free, consisting of sodium chloride crystals. Sel de Guérande is gray in colour due to the natural clay base of the salt pan and can be packaged as is, or dried and ground into different granules.
Fleur de sel de Guérande is white as it does not touch the base of the salt pan, but floats on the surface until it is delicately scraped off. Its taste is delicate and sea-salty, reminiscent of the ocean, like the taste when you lick your lips after a day on the beach.
Maldon sea salt is a traditional hand-harvested sea salt originating from Maldon. The salt has been harvested since 1882 and it’s characterized by the unique pyramid-like flakes. The brine is first evaporated over fires that are mounted on brick openings.
The pyramid-shaped crystals and flakes stop the salt from forming lumps. Maldon sea salt is typically used as a finishing salt – sprinkle it over grilled meat, butter, or vegetables just before serving for the best results. Its low content of magnesium doesn’t give the salt a bitter aftertaste, as many other salts do.
Tavira sea salt has unique chemical properties differing from those of common salt. It is an unrefined, additive-free artisanal sea salt, which lends a unique taste to the dishes it is used in. This flower of salt is produced using traditional methods and is harvested by hand every two weeks from July to September in the Ria Formosa Natural Park in the southern Portuguese municipality of Faro.
Only the water of the Atlantic Ocean, which is rich in salt and minerals, and natural wind and solar energy are used to produce the salt. This salt serves best when used to preserve foods such as meat, fish, and vegetables, or to make bread, butter, and cheese.
Fleur de sel (flower of salt) de Camargue is a traditional sea salt originating from Camargue in Provence. The crystals are hand-raked and harvested in the area during summer, and every salt worker harvests them at dawn from the surface of the water.
These humid crystals have a unique crunchiness and an exceptional flavor that slowly melts on the tongue. When added to dishes, the salt delicately enhances their flavors. It’s recommended to use fleur de sel de Camargue with grilled meat, salads, and fish dishes, among others.
Hawaiian red salt or alaea salt is a traditional and unrefined type of salt originating from Hawaii. The salt is mixed with alaea – volcanic clay that’s rich in iron oxide, and as a result the salt is red in color. In the past, this salt was used by shamans for their rituals, while the Hawaiians used it to cleanse the body in various ceremonies.
The flavor of the salt is intense, while the aromas are reminiscent of hazelnuts. It’s often used in local dishes such as poke, pipikaula (a tpye of Hawaiian jerky), and grilled or roasted meat dishes such as kalua pig.
Cornish sea salt is a prized natural salt originating from Cornwall. The original founder, Tony Fraser found a cove on the coast of Cornwall and set up the production methods to harvest the salt from open waters. This sea salt contains serpentine and gabbro, minerals that are rich in magnesium and calcium.
Nowadays, there is a wide range of sea salts and blends, all hand-harvested, crystallized, and with different textures. The flavor of Cornish sea salt is often described as smooth.
Halen môn is harvested in the Menai Strait, from the clean, clear seawaters that surround the beautiful island of Anglesey. These crystalline white soft salt flakes are additive free and their high mineral content lends a concentrated salty taste without a single note of bitterness.
Although most of Anglesey salt is packaged and sold in its basic form, there are also other varieties like flavored salts blended with either vanilla, celery seeds or organic spices, and a variety of salt flakes smoked over Welsh oak.
Paška sol is a unique type of sea salt harvested on the Croatian island of Pag. The area has a long tradition of organized salt production, and nowadays salty pools cover an area of over 2 million square meters. Paška sol naturally contains all the minerals found in the sea, and it is available on the market in form of fine sea salt, coarse sea salt, and cvijet soli, or flower of salt, especially renowned for its rich, creamy, and slightly sweet taste.
Produced in the Sicilian province of Trapani where salt processing dates back to the Phoenician era, Sale Marino di Trapani refers to hand-harvested sea salt obtained through evaporation of water within the Isole Egadi Marine Reserve, namely in the ancient salt pans of Trapani and Paceco Natural Reserve.
An entirely natural product, Trapani salt is produced without the use of additives, bleaches or preservatives. It is particularly pure, rich in magnesium, extremely soluble and therefore highly sought after and widely used in the canning industry.
Trapani salt is available as whole salt, fine or coarse table salt, seasoned salt and fleur de sel.
Ninska sol is a type of sea salt obtained from salt fields in the area of Nin. This natural and organic salt is the final product of a unique combination of warm and sunny climate, clean waters of the Adriatic Sea, the winds blowing from the Velebit Mountain, and the diverse animal and herbal life in the area of production.
Seawater from the Adriatic Sea enters the open pools during springtime, and with the aid of the warm and sunny weather, typical of spring and summer seasons, it goes through a stage of evaporation, leaving sea salt at the bottom of the pools. Once crystallized, the salt is harvested manually, as it has been done for over 1500 years, during spring, summer, and early autumn.
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Fina Isolana is a family-owned business located in Izola, Slovenia. They specialize in handcrafted sea salt blends, combining traditional Piran sea salt from the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park with hand-picked Adriatic herbs. Their product range includes herbal salts, grinders, herbal teas, and flavored sugars, all made from natural, Slovenian-origin ingredients.
Each product is meticulously crafted by hand in Izola, ensuring top quality and authenticity.
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Piranske Soline (Soline Pridelava soli d.o.o.) is the leading producer of Piran salt, harvested in the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park using traditional, centuries-old methods. The company specializes in high-quality, hand-harvested sea salt and fleur de sel (salt flower), rich in minerals and completely unrefined.
Their salt is produced sustainably, using wooden tools and traditional techniques that preserve the delicate salt crystals. Piranske Soline’s products are widely recognized for their premium quality, used by top chefs and sold in gourmet shops worldwide.
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Blackthorn Salt is a salt producer based in Ayr, Scotland. They use an innovative graduation tower to produce their salt, a method that harnesses the natural power of the wind and enhances the crystallization process. Blackthorn Salt focuses on sustainability and traditional craftsmanship in their production methods.
The company emphasizes minimal environmental impact and high-quality, natural salt.
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Great Taste Awards - 2 stars
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Great Taste Awards - 3 stars
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Fina Isolana, based in Izola, Slovenia, produces Piranska tradicionalna sol harvested manually from the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park, adhering to methods over 700 years old. This unrefined, non-iodized coarse sea salt retains its natural mineral content, offering a unique flavor profile.
Packaged in 100% natural cotton bags, it reflects the company's commitment to sustainability. Fina Isolana also creates artisanal salt blends by combining their Piran salt with hand-picked Adriatic herbs, enhancing culinary experiences.
Piranska sol z zaščiteno označbo porekla (Piran Salt with Protected Designation of Origin) is a premium, hand-harvested sea salt produced by Piranske Soline in the Sečovlje Salina Nature Park, Slovenia. It is made using traditional 700-year-old methods, ensuring purity and high mineral content, without additives or industrial processing.
The salt is naturally dried under the sun and wind, preserving its unique crystal structure and rich taste. This designation guarantees that the salt is sourced exclusively from Piran’s salt pans, following strict production standards. Fleur de Sel (Salt Flower), a delicate top layer of salt crystals, is one of its most prized varieties, highly valued by chefs worldwide.
AWARDS
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