We could say that natural sea salt is basically sea itself, concentrated in tiny grains. Natural sea salt has been harvested naturally, usually by hand, since ancient times, when salt crystals were first noticed in trapped bodies of seawater. It’s naturally left behind in shallow ponds on rocky and sandy shores, on estuaries and salt marshes, when seawater brines evaporate through sun and wind. Its value was at times even higher than that of gold.

Salt mining for solid rock salt was popular in ancient times as well, but it was considered dangerous and expensive to extract, without modern equipment. Usually, it was mined by slaves and prisoners. People started massively producing it, and treating it chemically with unhealthy additives. This resulted in the table salt or refined salt we all know. Table salt can be a combination of sea salt and rock salt, or just rock salt, refined for impurities. Unfortunately, this means that it’s stripped of most of its essential minerals as well.

Natural sea salt on the other hand, has many benefits. It helps regulate blood pressure and blood sugar levels and helps balance electrolytes in our bodies, which are essential to our nervous system. Additionally, natural sea salt helps prevent and reverse high levels of acidity, as well as promote heart health and stabilize irregular heart beats. Why are we still buying table salt, that has been blamed for so many health problems?

WHERE EXACTLY DOES NATURAL SEA SALT COME FROM?

Rock erosion by rain, is one of the ways that salt reaches the sea. Due to the rain's acidity, the rocks on land erode and release ions, which travel to the sea by rivers and streams. These ions are mostly chloride and sodium, what we know as salt, but other ions are released as well, such as magnesium and sulfate.

The other way that salt releases into the sea, is by openings in the seafloor. This may happen either directly from volcanic activity or from other hydrothermal fluids that come from the seafloor. The water is heated by magma and through various chemical reactions and contact with rocks, minerals are released in the water.

NATURAL METHOD OF SEA SALT HARVESTING

Natural sea salt harvesting is a delicate process as it requires picking non-contaminated sea shores where brines have been evaporated in natural cavities, leaving behind salt flake crystals. They are then hand-harvested, dried under the sun and each flake is picked and inspected individually, for impurities, like small rocks and weeds. Walking on steep and piercing rocks early in the morning, looking for crystals in between the shallow ponds, you get one of those feelings, where you are one with nature. Obviously, this is a time consuming process that relies on natural elements for its success, teaching us patience and handling things with care. That’s how precious is hand-harvested sea salt. It is usually practiced by locals, in windy areas with warm climates, where seawater evaporates quicker and there are less rainfalls, like many of the greek islands and other coasts.

This practice has transformed these days into mass industrial productions, resulting in the table salt we all know. Most domestic salt is produced nowadays, by artificial salt works, mining and a combination of both.

Natural sea salt is a gift given to us by mother nature. It’s preferred than table salt because it contains many minerals essential to our bodies. It's also tastier and has a natural feel to it. Try rubbing it gently between your fingers and see the texture for yourself. Whether you are using natural sea salt or table salt, remember that too much of anything will negatively impact your health, so always consume in moderation.

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FROM OCEAN TO YOUR KITCHEN: HOW NATURAL SEA SALT IS HARVESTED