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About Flor de Sal and Sal Marinho Tradicional
Fleur
de Sel, known in Portugal as Flor de Sal, is hand-harvested, in the
Algarve region of Portugal. During the harvest process, the first layer
produces the finest and most mineral-rich crystals, to ultimately be
used, not during the cooking process, but to season dishes prior to
serving. Flor de Sal is used to greatest effect with simple dishes and
foods that will accentuate its unique sweet and creamy flavor. In days
gone by, Portuguese salt workers referred to Flor de Sal as "salt
cream," as it was (and is still) collected from the salt pan (salina)
surface as cream is from the milk). The second (called Gray Salt) and
subsequent layers are coarser and less pure in flavor and color. These
subsequent layers, however, still produce hand-harvested sea salt, as
with our Sal Marinho Tradicional. These salts are superior to processed
salts in terms of purity and taste. |
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To put this in perspective, at the bottom of the food salt pyramid (in
terms of taste, nutrition and ecological impact) is commercial, iodized
table salt, which is known for its harsh, artificial, chemical taste.
 Next
is what is considered coarse salt, which does not have iodine and
sometimes lacks the anti-caking agents present in table salt. Coarse
salt, which includes kosher salt and Sal Marinho Tradicional is
commonly used in the cooking process, due to it's coarse nature. Kosher
salt, contrary to popular belief, is simply coarse salt (not processed
as table salt, and not rock salt, which requires grinding), which has
been certified kosher by one of a number of certifying organizations.
Chefs prefer this salt for cooking, as it is much easier to control the
saltiness of food using coarse salt, and does not require any grinding.
The taste difference between Flor de Sal and lower grades of salt can
be compared to the difference between pure, high-grade maple syrup and
corn-syrup-based artificial pancake syrups. Most people who have tried
maple syrup never want to go back to eating the artificial syrups
because the real maple syrup has a subtle and rich flavor, which
artificial syrups totally lack. Likewise, Flor de Sal has a rich,
creamy, sweet flavor (and melts on your tongue). It also contains trace
minerals needed for good health such as magnesium, iron, calcium and
potassium.
Necton's Flor de Sal and Sal Marinho Tradicional are some of the finest
sea salts in the world. The quality of a sea salt is dependent on both
the climate of a region and the level of quality control exercised over
the process of harvesting. The best-known French Fleur de Sel hails
from Guerande (Brittany), which has a rainy climate. The rainfall in
this region stirs up clay at the bottom of the ocean and mixes in with
the salt crystals that get raked up during harvesting. This results in
discolored (grayer) and less pure salt than that which is harvested
from the Algarve region, which has a much sunnier, hotter and less
rainy climate, at a third to half of the rainfall during the summer
months. The result: brilliantly white sea salt that has all the
micronutrients naturally found in ocean water without the discoloration
that results from muddied ocean water. Necton, proudly adheres to the
quality standards outlined by 'Nature et Progrès', equivalent to certified organic produce, which ensures the highest level of purity in their sea salt.
Comparing Different Types of Salt
Flor de Sal is hand harvested on a daily basis from the brine surface of salinas as old as the Roman Empire. Click here to see how this process is unique, even from other sea salts.
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