It’s an everyday staple that few of us pay attention to - unless it’s run out. But a good salt can exemplify your cooking in ways that will have dinner party guests wondering if you had outside help.
As with all kitchen larder staples, there’s bog standard on one end of the scale and splashy luxe versions on the other end. In the case of salt, it’s table versus gourmet sea salt.
How is sea salt harvested?
As you’d imagine, plucking salty crystals out of the sea is a complicated job. It’s managed in several ways including evaporation ponds, allowing the sun’s heat to do the heavy lifting for you; hydraulic-heavy salt marshes which is more effort but rewards with flower of salt as well as the coarse kind; and mining which removes up to 65 per cent of salt by chiselling it out in a checkerboard pattern.
Where is sea salt harvested in the UK?
Surrounded by water, our island nation is perfectly positioned to harvest sea salt. Hotspots include Cornwall, Anglesey and the Hebrides. Maldon in Essex is also a major sea salt producer and a familiar brand for millions who won’t use anything but its hand-harvested artisan flakes.
Is there a difference between sea salts?
It may look the same, but the difference lies in the taste. Sea salt can contain geo-relevant minerals from the body of water it was collected from - think calcium, magnesium, iron and potassium - that subtly alter its taste.
Sea salt is typically made up of larger crystals with a sharper, purer taste. They also tend to be less refined, so while they may have the same basic nutritional value and sodium levels as plain table salt, they’re easier for your body to digest and are better at hydrating from the inside out.
What is the daily recommended salt intake?
According to the NHS, adults should consume no more than 6g of salt every day, which is about one level teaspoon - though the World Health Organisation drops this to 5g. This includes salt that’s already in food plus anything you sling into a meal or sprinkle on top. For infants whose kidneys have not fully developed yet, this recommended intake drops to less than a gram a day.
Whether you’re looking to jazz up kitchen staples with a box of gourmet sea salt or dream of bouncing flakes off your forearm a la Salt Bae, we’ve rounded up the best brands below. From long-established names to new players, find the sea salt brands raking it in below.
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Maldon Sea Salt
A box of Maldon salt sitting in your cupboard or on the counter has become a low-key status symbol. Beloved by the best chefs, the British brand conveys a sense of luxury and passion for gourmet cooking, starting with the simplest of base ingredients.
Sea salt is hand-harvested in the same methods the company has been using since 1882, with pyramid-shaped crystals imparting an intense burst of clean flavour. The seasoning is offered in everything from catering tubs for professional kitchens to small packets that make cost-effective housewarming or dinner party offerings for hosts who appreciate practical gifts.
What’s more, standard sea salt is just the beginning. The brand offers a gourmet range including smoked salt, garlic sea salt and chilli sea salt, meaning you can expect immense flavour in every pinch.
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Cornish Sea Salt
After coming across an Iron Age saltworks while out walking, Cornish Sea Salt founder Tony Fraser became determined to revive the industry in his small pocket of Cornwall. The result is Cornish Sea Salt which still uses centuries-old harvesting methods to make its high-quality product for 21st Century cooks. Taken from the shores of The Lizard, sea salt from this serene setting contains high mineral content - calcium and magnesium - all making for a healthier salt.
Varieties include the OG available as crystals, flakes and smoked flakes. If you’re looking for a side of flavour, Cornish Sea Salt also sells chilli, garlic, lemon pepper, Mexican and Fresh & Zesty combinations in recyclable tubs made from low-carbon PP5 plastic.
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La Baleine Sel De Mer
Across the Channel, our French friends turn to La Baleine when they need a pinch of sea salt. The brand has been in the game since 1934 and uses a natural crystallisation process that uses natural energy from the sun, wind and sea to harvest its product.
Coarse sea salt can be found for a few pounds online, but if you’re looking to get really fancy with your seasoning, the company offers prized fleur de sel for an elevated price.
It can be used for cooking, roasting and as table salt making it an invaluable kitchen all-rounder.
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Isle of Skye Sea Salt Company
Scotland’s rugged coastline is a haven for sea salt harvesting, with the Isle of Skye Seat Salt Company standing out of the crowd for its high-quality taste. Salt is gathered using traditional methods and sustainable practices from the waters surrounding the pretty isle, reviving an industry that had died out in the area for some 300 years.
The Isle of Skye Seat Salt Company favours solar evaporation to free crystals from water, funnelled to ponds beside Lock Snizort. It’s as unrefined as can be, something that is discernable in its taste. Salt come coarse and will need grinding before it can be used in everyday cooking.
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Celtic Sea Salt
Founded in 1976, Celtic Sea Salt prides itself on offering the purest sea salt to its global fanbase. Despite its British-sounding name, the company began in America and still handcrafts its products today, which include white and grey salt as well as gourmet flower of the sea. Alongside salt for cooking and seasoning, the offeirng also includes bath salts, animal salts and salts for post-exercise to help replenish lost electrolytes.
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