About Our Bulk Sea Salt
Sea Salt Applications
Intended for a variety of industrial and food processing applications, including baking, soups, cheese manufacturing, meat processing, seasonings, snacks and prepared mixes.
This is also popular salt for topping pretzels, crackers and processing tomato products. Intended both for human consumption and industrial processes where a salt of high quality is required.
Bulk Sea Salt FAQs
What is the difference between kosher salt and sea salt?
Kosher salt is quite similar to sea salt, with the main difference being that Kosher salt is mined from salt deposits on land, and sea salt is harvested straight from the sea. Because Kosher salt is taken from the land, it tends to require more processing and refining than sea salt. In terms of processing requirements, sea salts are the least processed, then Kosher salts, then table salt. Both Kosher and sea salt come in various sizes, with Kosher salt being characterized as having large white grains, earning it the nickname "rock salt".
In the Jewish kitchen, cooks use it to extract blood from meat to make it kosher in accordance with the Torah.
Where does sea salt come from?
This may come as a surprise, but Sea Salt does in fact come from the sea! Typically, sea water is flooded over a flat, shallow plain. As the water evaporates in the sun, the sea salt is left over for harvesting. There are a variety of conditions that affect the purity of the sea salt, including the local climate, water quality, and post-harvest treatment.
Sea salt goes through very minimal processing compared to table salt. Table salt is usually mined from salt deposits on land and then processed to give it a fine texture.
How much sodium is in sea salt?
Interestingly enough, sea salt has less sodium than regular table salt for the same volume. Typically, table salt comes along with about 2,300 mg of sodium per teaspoon (1 teaspoon is roughly 6 grams) while sea salt has about 2,000 mg of sodium per teaspoon (a tablespoon of sea salt is about 4.2 grams). The difference in the weight of a teaspoon of table salt vs a teaspoon of sea salt comes down to density. Because sea salt flakes/grains are larger than table salt, the same volume weighs less.
With that being said, it is important to note that both table salt and sea salts have the same amount of sodium by weight. Both are roughly 40%. Only because sea salt is less dense than table salt, 1 teaspoon has less sodium than 1 tablespoon of table salt.
What is the difference between table salt & sea salt?
Sea salt goes through very minimal processing compared to table salt. It is just seawater that has had all of the water evaporated away. Table salt is usually mined from salt deposits on land and then processed to give it a fine texture. Additives may be added to prevent clumping in table salt, and the processing of table salt strips away trace minerals that may be present in Sea Salt.
They are basically the same chemical structure, with the only real difference being the presence of trace elements as well as the difference in crystal sizes.
Understandably, sea salt is typically more expensive (but not much more here at Olam!) due to the labor intense nature of harvesting sea salts from evaporated salt ponds.
Why is sea salt better for you?
In reality, there isn’t much difference in the health benefits between sea salt and table salt. The natural minerals occurring in sea salt are trace, and you can get enough of those minerals from other foods you eat. In reality, it comes down to preference in taste and texture. Sea salt is a bit more coarse, while table salt is more fine
How is bulk sea salt harvested?
It’s a pretty straightforward process. Large flat "ponds" near the sea are flooded with a very shallow layer of sea water. As the sun evaporates the water, natural sea salt is left behind. There is usually very little processing or refining that occurs after that, although certain flavors, colors, or filtering of grain sizes may occur.
What minerals are in sea salt?
It depends where the sea salt is harvested from. Usually there is calcium, potassium, and magnesium. There can also be traces of manganese, iron, and copper. Olam makes sure to source Sea Salt from the cleanest environments around the world, with the strictest, most premium standards applied to trace minerals.
What is sea salt good for?
So many things! You can flavor your soups, pretzels, and all sorts of other foods. Sea Salt can be added at any stage of cooking or manufacturing, and like Kosher Salt it adds brine and crunch to piquant and savory dishes. It’s also pretty to look at! It can be used as a premium finishing salt, and it melts pleasantly on the tongue to add interest to many dishes. Try it on anything from steak to caramel ice cream!
What are the major sea salts?
Pacific, Atlantic, and Mediterranean are the most common. However, there are also colored sea salts, specialty French and Celtic Sea Salts, as well as Hawaiian. Typically sea salts come in fine, medium, or coarse grade, with fine being the smallest salt granules and coarse being the largest. The flakes are small, clear, non-uniform shapes (but usually pyramid shaped).