Mellow white table salt from environmentally protected salt marshes of southern Portugal's Algarve region that has supplied the world with sea salt for millennia. Hand-harvested, and triple sea water washed for whiteness. Fine grind.
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Eden Portuguese Sea Salt is from the renowned environmentally protected salt marshes of southern Portugal, Algarve (al-gar-vay) province, one of Earth's most beautiful seashores. Located at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea this region has supplied salt to the entire known world for millennia. It is believed the Phoenicians originally built the clay salt basins called 'salinas' and later the Moors and Romans worked them. Salt is hand harvested in the same manner used there for over 3,000 years.
The Algarve region is ideal for sea salt production with its sunny climate, dry Atlantic winds, and hot winds that blow from North Africa. All these assist the evaporation process together with minimal rainfall helps produce a pure, naturally white sea salt.
The salinas of Algarve are a complex system of lagoons interconnected by canals. The footpath banks are planted with hedges that resist erosion during winter storms. The Atlantic flows into the canals filling the man-made patchwork of rectangular, hard sun-baked clay salinas. Evaporation from sun and wind transform the sea into a layer of large coarse crystals called 'sal marinho tradicional' or traditional sea salt. The crystals are hand harvested by the 'marenotos' or salters using a long rake to gather the crystals. Using strong, swift strokes the marenoto draw them to one side of each basin. Using shovels the crystals are moved to a dry basin and piled into pyramids that become several feet high as harvest season progresses. These coarse crystals dry further and are moved to an area where sea water washing removes sand and seaweed. Sun dried again the crystals are sea water bathed again. Water is then centrifuged out. This cleaning process is repeated several times, brightening the salt while preserving flavor and nutrients. The crystals are then milled and sifted to ensure a consistent grain and sent to a dryer where warm air reduces moisture content to 0.01% . The salt is bagged and shipped to Eden where it's packed in glass to prevent moisture absorbtion; important because it does not contain anti-caking or flowing chemicals.
Only traditional methods are used in creating unrefined Eden Sea Salt's smoothness and whiteness. They capture flavor, valuable minerals, and trace elements. No additives, anti-caking agents, or chemicals are used or added. Iodine is not stripped out and then 'fortified' back in.
The market is awash with imitation sea salts that have little in common with the likes of Eden sea salts. Almost all food processors use these because they're so cheap in comparison and they can get away with it. The difference is the taste, nutrients, and physiological effects.
Eden Portuguese Sea Salt has a clean, smooth, full bodied flavor. A supreme value, it's ideal for use as table salt and for all cooking and baking needs. In salt shakers, add several grains of rice to absorb moisture.This salt does not supply iodide, a necessary nutrient.
