For Menus on Dao Life Lunar Day 14

In this guide, we will learn more about the vast assortment of salt types, ranging from the commonly used table salt, known for its fine texture and uniformity, to the complex profiles of international sea and rock salts, celebrated for their rich mineral content and diverse culinary applications. This review discusses how culinary salts enhance consumer’s enjoyment of food with many benefits for their health. For those following the Lunar Calendar, there’s a list of online retailers where you can find any of these you are interested in trying a new recipe on Salty Days.

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Here’s an expanded list of ten consumer salts with details on their culinary and health benefits, origins, and production methods. Note that many of these salts are naturally based and may not contain Iodine, a required nutrient commonly added to table salt. You may have to keep track of or supplement iodine if you use natural salt exclusively. Here’s a blog explaining.

1. Himalayan Pink Salt
   • Culinary Benefits: Adds a subtle flavor and is ideal for seasoning and preserving.
   • Health Benefits: Contains over 80 minerals, promoting hydration and electrolyte balance.
   • Origin & Production: Mined from ancient salt beds deep in the Himalayas, where it has been preserved for millions of years.
2. Sea Salt
   • Culinary Benefits: Enhances natural flavors; available in fine or coarse grains.
   • Health Benefits: Provides essential minerals like potassium, iron, and calcium.
   • Origin & Production: Produced by evaporating seawater, often using traditional methods that retain mineral content.
3. Kosher Salt
   • Culinary Benefits: Coarser grains ideal for seasoning and finishing.
   • Health Benefits: Usually free from additives like iodine.
   • Origin & Production: Named for its use in the koshering process; its large flakes draw moisture from meats, making it suitable for koshering.
4. Celtic Sea Salt
   • Culinary Benefits: Known for its briny flavor; excellent for cooking and finishing.
   • Health Benefits: Rich in trace minerals, helps to alkalize the body.
   • Origin & Production: Harvested from the tidal ponds off the coast of France using traditional wooden rakes.
5. Black Salt (Kala Namak)
   • Culinary Benefits: Offers a distinctive sulfuric flavor, popular in vegan cooking to mimic egg flavor.
   • Health Benefits: Believed to aid digestion and has cooling effects according to Ayurvedic medicine.
   • Origin & Production: Produced in the Himalayan regions; black salt is volcanic rock salt that is fired in a furnace with charcoal and herbs.
6. Smoked Salt
   • Culinary Benefits: Infuses a smoky flavor into dishes, ideal for adding a barbecue-like taste without grilling.
   • Health Benefits: Similar to sea salt, depending on the source salt used.
   • Origin & Production: Made by smoking sea salt over wood fires to infuse the salt with smoke flavor.
7. Flake Salt
   • Culinary Benefits: Light, flaky texture perfect for finishing dishes.
   • Health Benefits: Usually natural and unrefined, retains trace minerals.
   • Origin & Production: Formed by evaporating salt brine into large, thin crystals, often using methods that promote a flaky structure.
8. Fleur de Sel
   • Culinary Benefits: Delicate, light crystals with a subtle flavor, ideal for finishing gourmet dishes.
   • Health Benefits: High mineral content, including magnesium and calcium.
   • Origin & Production: Skimmed from the top of salt ponds in Brittany, France, this “flower of salt” is harvested by hand.
9. Maldon Salt
   • Culinary Benefits: Pyramid-shaped crystals provide a satisfying crunch and dissolve evenly.
   • Health Benefits: Pure with no additives, retaining the natural minerals.
   • Origin & Production: Produced in the town of Maldon, England using traditional salt-making techniques that date back centuries.
10. Hawaiian Black Lava Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Offers a smoky flavor with a striking black color, great for garnishing.
    • Health Benefits: Contains activated charcoal, which aids digestion and removes impurities.
    • Origin & Production: Sea salt mixed with activated volcanic charcoal, harvested from the volcanic islands of Hawaii.
11. Blue Persian Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Nutty, savory flavor ideal for unique culinary creations.
    • Health Benefits: Contains trace elements and minerals.
    • Origin & Production: Mined from ancient salt lakes in Iran, notable for its striking blue color due to sylvinite mineral content.
12. Indian Black Salt (Sanchal)
    • Culinary Benefits: Strong sulfur taste, perfect for adding depth to Indian dishes.
    • Health Benefits: Promotes digestion and is a cooling spice, according to Ayurveda.
    • Origin & Production: Harvested from volcanic regions of India and Pakistan; processed similarly to Kala Namak but darker and more intense.
13. Bolivian Rose Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Mild, sweet flavor, suitable for use as a table salt.
    • Health Benefits: Rich in minerals, similar to Himalayan pink salt.
    • Origin & Production: Mined from the Andes Mountains in Bolivia, the salt deposits are pink in color, formed from ancient sea beds.
14. Alpine Rock Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Earthy taste, enhances hearty dishes like stews and roasted meats.
    • Health Benefits: Contains naturally occurring iodine and other minerals.
    • Origin & Production: Extracted from deep within the Alpine mountains, where it has been preserved for millennia.
15. Aguni Japanese Sea Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Extremely fine texture and subtle flavor, ideal for delicate dishes.
    • Health Benefits: High in trace minerals and lower in sodium content compared to regular sea salt.
    • Origin & Production: Produced on Aguni Island, Japan, using traditional sun-drying techniques that enhance its purity and flavor.
16. Sel Gris (French Grey Salt)
    • Culinary Benefits: Coarse texture and briny flavor, excellent for cooking and finishing.
    • Health Benefits: Naturally enhances body’s electrolytes and maintains balance.
    • Origin & Production: Harvested manually from the clay-lined salt ponds in the Guérande region of France, which gives it the grey color.
17. Australian Pink Lake Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Mild flavor with a touch of sweetness, visually appealing on dishes.
    • Health Benefits: Natural source of several essential minerals.
    • Origin & Production: Harvested from a naturally pink-hued lake in Western Australia, the color arises from a micro-algae with high beta-carotene content.
18. Danish Smoked Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Intense smoky flavor, ideal for adding a smoked effect without actual smoking.
    • Health Benefits: Same as regular sea salt, with added smoky aroma influencing taste perception.
    • Origin & Production: Traditional Danish recipe where salt is smoked over a variety of wood chips, imparting deep flavor.
19. Murray River Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Delicate peach-colored flakes, perfect for finishing desserts and savory dishes.
    • Health Benefits: Contains magnesium and calcium, beneficial for health.
    • Origin & Production: Produced from the saline waters of the Murray River in Australia, the light hue comes from carotene produced by algae in the water.
20. Guatemalan Fleur de Sel
    • Cultural Benefits: Provides a delicate crunch and a mild flavor, perfect for enhancing both savory and sweet dishes.
    • Health Benefits: Similar to French Fleur de Sel, rich in trace minerals.
    • Origin & Production: Hand-harvested from the salt pans along the Pacific coast of Guatemala, using traditional methods.
21. Cypriot Black Lava Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Its dramatic black color and pyramid-shaped crystals make it an eye-catching garnish.
    • Health Benefits: Contains activated charcoal, which aids in digestion and detoxification.
    • Origin & Production: Sea salt from the island of Cyprus combined with activated charcoal derived from volcanic areas.
22. Egyptian White Desert Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Known for its pure, clean taste, excellent for all culinary applications.
    • Health Benefits: Contains essential minerals that are beneficial for overall health.
    • Origin & Production: Harvested from the salt lakes in Egypt’s White Desert, known for its extremely pure salt deposits.
23. Peruvian Pink Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Offers a rich taste that enhances meat dishes, especially pork and lamb.
    • Health Benefits: Mineral-rich, particularly in iron, calcium, and magnesium.
    • Origin & Production: Harvested from ancient sea salt ponds in the Andes Mountains of Peru, traditionally gathered by local communities.
24. Hawaiian Red Alaea Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Its unique red color adds visual appeal to dishes, with a slightly nutty flavor.
    • Health Benefits: The red alaea clay mixed with the salt enriches it with iron-oxide.
    • Origin & Production: Traditional Hawaiian salt mixed with volcanic red clay, used in ceremonial cooking.
25. Sicilian Sea Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Prized for its bright flavor and moisture, excellent for salads and seafood.
    • Health Benefits: Contains a balanced mix of trace minerals from the Mediterranean Sea.
    • Origin & Production: Collected from the salt pans of Trapani, on the coast of Sicily, using centuries-old methods of solar evaporation.
26. Patagonian Blue Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Striking blue specks make it a unique finisher for gourmet dishes.
    • Health Benefits: Contains trace amounts of potassium and magnesium.
    • Origin & Production: Found in the salt flats of Patagonia, this salt gets its blue hue from the mineral sylvinite.
27. Andean Rose Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Mild and crisp, perfect for general cooking and baking.
    • Health Benefits: High in potassium and magnesium.
    • Origin & Production: Extracted from ancient deposits in the high altitudes of the Andes Mountains, originally formed by prehistoric seas.
28. Kalahari Desert Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Pure and unrefined with a delicate flavor, suitable for enhancing simple dishes.
    • Health Benefits: Naturally rich in essential minerals, including potassium and magnesium.
    • Origin & Production: Harvested from the salt pans of the Kalahari Desert, where salt has been collected for thousands of years.
29. Vietnamese Flower Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Delicate and slightly sweet, ideal for seafood and vegetable dishes.
    • Health Benefits: Rich in minerals and trace elements.
    • Origin & Production: Made from seawater that is allowed to evaporate in fields, forming thin, petal-like crystals, collected by hand in Vietnam.
30. Salar de Uyuni Salt.
    • Culinary Benefits: Salar de Uyuni salt, sourced from the vast salt flats of Bolivia, is known for its pure, clean taste. It’s highly prized by chefs for bringing out the natural flavors of dishes without imparting a strong saltiness.
    • Health Benefits: This salt is minimally processed and contains trace minerals similar to other natural sea salts. Its purity ensures that it’s free from common contaminants found in sea salts.
    • Origin & Production: Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat, located in Bolivia. The salt is harvested manually in a sustainable manner, ensuring minimal impact on the environment while preserving the natural landscape.
31. Alderwood Smoked Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Infused with the aroma of Alderwood smoke, it adds a natural, smoky flavor to meats and vegetables without outdoor grilling.
    • Health Benefits: Similar to regular sea salt, but with added smoky aroma that enhances flavor perception.
    • Origin & Production: Typically made from sea salt that is slowly smoked over Alderwood, giving it a deep, smoky flavor.
32. Chardonnay Oak Smoked Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: This salt is smoked with Chardonnay oak wine barrels, adding a sophisticated note to fine foods.
    • Health Benefits: Offers the basic mineral profile of sea salt, enhanced with the subtle hint of oak and wine.
    • Origin & Production: Sea salt crystals are smoked over Chardonnay oak barrels, which previously aged wines, infusing the salt with the essence of oak and Chardonnay.
33. Vanilla Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Combines the sweet flavor of vanilla with salt, making it ideal for desserts and baking.
    • Health Benefits: Contains essential minerals found in sea salt, while vanilla adds aromatic benefits.
    • Origin & Production: Produced by infusing sea salt with vanilla beans, often used in gourmet desserts.
34. Espresso Brava Salt
    • Cultural Benefits: This salt is a blend of sea salt and ground espresso beans, perfect for enhancing the flavor of chocolates, desserts, and meats.
    • Health Benefits: Offers a boost of flavor along with the antioxidant benefits of coffee.
    • Origin & Production: Typically made by blending finely ground espresso beans with Mediterranean sea salt.
35. Szechuan Peppercorn Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Combines the numbing bite of Szechuan peppercorns with salt, adding a unique, spicy flavor to Asian dishes.
    • Health Benefits: Szechuan peppercorns are known for their anti-inflammatory properties.
    • Origin & Production: Made by infusing coarse sea salt with ground Szechuan peppercorns, often used in Chinese cuisine.
36. Matcha Salt
    • Culinary Benefits: Brings a touch of green tea flavor to dishes, perfect for seasoning seafood or vegetables.
    • Health Benefits: Combines the detoxifying properties of matcha green tea with the minerals in salt.
    • Origin & Production: Produced by blending finely ground matcha green tea with high-quality sea salt.
37. Amabito No Moshio (Seaweed Salt)
    • Culinary Benefits: Ancient Japanese salt known for its umami flavor, enhancing seafood and soups.
    • Health Benefits: Rich in iodine and trace minerals, with added benefits from seaweed.
    • Origin & Production: Traditionally made by harvesting seaweed, drying it, and combining it with sea salt, then slowly evaporating the mixture to retain rich flavors.

These salts not only enhance the flavor of your dishes but also bring a touch of global tradition and unique mineral benefits to your table. You can use these specialty salts to “spice” up your menus on Lunar Days where mindfully consuming Salt is beneficial to your health, like Dao Life Lunar Calendar Day 14.

Where to Buy Specialty Salts Online

You can find a wide range of gourmet and specialty salts online through various retailers:

1. Spice Jungle offers a broad selection including Black Truffle Salt, Hawaiian Red Sea Salt, and more. Their website is Spice Jungle.
2. Sea Salt Superstore provides an extensive variety of gourmet salts in bulk quantities. You can check their offerings at Sea Salt Superstore.
3. SaltWorks is known for having a large selection of gourmet sea salts, including smoked salts and exotic varieties like Fleur de Sel and Himalayan salt. Visit them online at SaltWorks.
4. Salt Traders carries unique sea salts from around the world, including Danish Viking-Smoked Sea Salt and Peruvian Pink Salt. Explore their selection at Salt Traders.
5. The Meadow offers more than 50 different finishing salts, including obscure selections like Okinawa Snow and Turkish Black Pyramid. Their website is The Meadow.
6. Caravel Gourmet features a variety of gourmet sea salts, including Rosemary Sea Salt and Peppered Sea Salt Blend. Find more information at Caravel Gourmet.
7. Mountain Rose Herbs provides gourmet salts with a focus on natural and organic options, such as Black Lava Salt and Hawaiian Red Alaea Salt. Visit Mountain Rose Herbs.
8. Jacobsen Salt Co. offers finely crafted salts harvested from the Oregon Coast. Their range includes Flake Salt and Infused Black Garlic Salt. Check them out at Jacobsen Salt Co..
9. Gourmet Food Store sells premium French sea salts like Fleur de Sel from Guerande and Grey Sea Salt from Noirmoutier. Visit their site at Gourmet Food Store.
10. The Spice House provides an array of spices and salts, including specialty salts for various culinary needs. Their website is The Spice House.

Check out this blog for a 3 Day Healthy Salty Food Menu incorporating some of these specialty and culinary salts!