What is Salt?
Salt is an essential mineral that plays a crucial role in human health and well-being. It is composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl) and is responsible for maintaining the body’s electrolyte balance, regulating blood pressure, and aiding nerve function.
As a natural preservative and flavor enhancer, salt has been used in cooking and food preservation for centuries.
Best Salt In South Africa
Table Salt
Table salt is the most widely used type of salt in South Africa. It is typically refined and has added anti-caking agents to prevent clumping. Table salt is ideal for everyday use in cooking and seasoning.
Sea Salt
Sea salt is derived from evaporated seawater and is rich in minerals and trace elements. It comes in various grain sizes, including fine and coarse, and is used for cooking, baking, and seasoning. Some popular South African sea salts include Khoisan Sea Salt and Oryx Desert Salt.
Rock Salt
Rock salt is mined from ancient salt deposits and is unrefined, which means it retains its natural minerals. It is often used for culinary purposes, as well as industrial and de-icing applications.
Himalayan Pink Salt
Himalayan Pink Salt is sourced from the foothills of the Himalayas and is known for its pink hue, which comes from trace minerals like iron, potassium, and magnesium.
It is considered a healthier alternative to table salt due to its mineral content and is used for cooking and therapeutic purposes.
Kosher Salt
Kosher salt is a coarse, flaky salt that is typically used in the koshering process to remove surface blood from meats. Its texture makes it an excellent choice for seasoning and brining, as it dissolves quickly and evenly.
Popular Brands of Salt in South Africa
Several brands offer high-quality salt products in South Africa. Some of the most popular include:
- Cerebos: A leading producer of table salt in South Africa, Cerebos offers a range of iodized and non-iodized table salts suitable for various culinary applications.
- Khoisan Sea Salt: Sourced from the West Coast of South Africa, Khoisan Sea Salt is hand-harvested, unrefined, and rich in minerals. They offer various products, including coarse, fine, and flavored sea salts.
- Oryx Desert Salt: Harvested from the remote Kalahari Desert, Oryx Desert Salt is a natural, unrefined sea salt with a distinct taste and mineral content. Their product range includes coarse, fine, and smoked salts, as well as salt slabs for cooking and serving.
- Saxa Salt: A popular brand in South Africa, Saxa offers a variety of salt products, including table salt, sea salt, and rock salt, catering to various cooking and seasoning needs.
Uses of Salt
Salt is a versatile ingredient with numerous uses in the kitchen and beyond. Some of its primary uses include:
- Cooking: Salt is a vital component in cooking, enhancing the flavor of foods and acting as a natural preservative.
- Baking: Salt is often used in baking to balance out the sweetness of desserts and improve the texture of baked goods.
- Seasoning: Salt is a universal seasoning, used to bring out the natural flavors of ingredients and add depth to dishes.
- Food Preservation: Salt has been used for centuries to preserve foods, such as curing meats and pickling vegetables.
- Cleaning: Salt can be used as a natural abrasive cleaner for various surfaces and objects, such as cutting boards, pots, and pans.
- Personal Care: Salt has numerous personal care applications, from exfoliating body scrubs to soothing bath soaks.
Health Benefits of Salt
Despite concerns about excessive salt consumption and its link to health issues like high blood pressure, salt is an essential nutrient with several health benefits:
- Hydration: Salt helps the body maintain properly.
Does South Africa produce salt?
Our salt pans have a long history dating back to the late 1700s when the local inhabitants already gathered salt in these naturally formed salt pans’ believed to be amongst the first salt pans in South Africa.
Marina Sea Salt is still cultivating salt from these very same salt pans.
Is desert salt good?
Rich in Natural Minerals: Desert Salt is rich in 70+ vital minerals that are important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle like Potassium, Calcium, Iodine, Magnesium, Iron, Phosphorus & Sulphate.