How Do We Get Sea Salt?
Sea salt is harvested by evaporating seawater. This process, used for centuries, leverages the power of the sun to naturally concentrate the salt.
There are several methods for obtaining sea salt, all revolving around evaporation:
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Solar Evaporation in Salt Pans: This is the traditional and most common method. Seawater is channeled into large, shallow man-made pools called salt pans or salt works. The sun's heat causes the water to evaporate, leaving behind concentrated salt brine. Further evaporation leads to the crystallization of sea salt, which is then harvested. This method thrives in warm, sunny climates with low rainfall (as noted in several sources like 88 Acres and Harvesting Nature).
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Boiling Seawater: While less common on a large scale, seawater can be boiled to evaporate the water and leave behind the salt. This method is faster but requires more energy. Harvesting Nature demonstrates this method, albeit on a smaller scale.
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Freezing Seawater: A less common technique involves freezing seawater. As the water freezes, it leaves behind a concentrated brine richer in salt. This method is practical even in colder climates (as mentioned in a Reddit post).
Types of Sea Salt & Their Origin
The type and quality of sea salt depend on the source of seawater and the harvesting method. Different locations yield unique salt compositions and crystal sizes.
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Ocean Sea Salt: The most prevalent type, originating from ocean water. Examples include Hawaiian sea salt from the deep ocean (Sea Salts of Hawaii) and various sea salts from around the world.
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Salt Lake Sea Salt: Harvested from salt lakes, these salts possess unique mineral compositions depending on the lake's environment.
Sea Salt vs. Table Salt
While both are sodium chloride, sea salt undergoes less processing than table salt, retaining trace minerals. The Mayo Clinic highlights this difference, noting that sea salt is less processed and retains trace minerals.
