Why Use Sea Salt?

The ocean from which sea salt originates has a definite effect on the flavor that results from it. Sea salt is typically 98% sodium chloride and 2% minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, iron, calcium, etc. Every ocean has a different mineral composition, which is what causes the different flavors between one sea salt and another. For example, a sea salt that is harvested out of the Atlantic Ocean may have more potassium than a sea salt harvested from the Pacific Ocean.

Flavor is also affected by the method used to process the sea salt once it is removed from an ocean or cave. Natural, unrefined, hand-harvested sea salt still has the same flavor it had when it was first removed from the ocean. This is what creates the complexity of flavors in sea salt.

Unlike table salt, which is chemically cleaned, bleached, and treated with anti-caking agents, sea salt is natural, processed with very little mechanization, no heating, and unrefined. More and more people are becoming concerned with the chemicals they are putting in their bodies and using unrefined, high-quality sea salt is part of a more conscientious lifestyle.

One thing to keep in mind is that even though the label on a jar of salt says 'Sea Salt', it may still be highly processed and contain chemicals. Consider the place/person you're buying it from, look for words like 'unrefined', 'unprocessed', or 'natural' on the label, and the price. With sea salt, you get what you pay for...