The Top 6 Artisanal Salt Companies to Know

Written By Santa Prisca & Co Staff Last updated on

Have you ever paused to consider the story behind the salt you use every day? Most of us grew up with a simple shaker of uniform white crystals, a seasoning so common it was almost invisible. But there is another world of salt, one tied to place, tradition, and the rhythm of the earth. This is the world of artisanal salt, where each crystal is a reflection of its origin—from the mineral-rich waters it was born in to the patient hands that harvested it. Choosing to cook with this kind of salt is about more than flavor; it’s an invitation to connect more deeply with our food. A great artisanal salt company doesn't just sell a product; it shares a piece of a story, a taste of a specific coastline or ancient seabed, turning a simple meal into a more meaningful experience.

Key Takeaways

  • Choose Salt for Its Origin, Not Just Salinity: The true character of an artisanal salt comes from its unique source and minimal processing, which preserves natural minerals that create a more complex, nuanced flavor than refined table salt.
  • Master the Art of Finishing: While a fine-grain salt seasons a dish from within, the real transformation often happens at the end. Use a flaky finishing salt just before serving to add a satisfying textural crunch and a final burst of clean flavor.
  • Shop with Intention and Transparency: When selecting a salt, look for brands that are open about their sourcing and harvesting methods. This ensures you’re getting a pure, additive-free product while supporting sustainable practices that honor the environment and its artisans.

What Sets Artisanal Salt Apart?

Have you ever wondered what makes a pinch of one salt so different from another? While the shaker of refined white salt on a diner table serves its purpose, artisanal salt tells a much deeper story. It’s a story of place, tradition, and intention. Unlike its mass-produced counterpart, which is often stripped of its natural minerals and treated with anti-caking agents, artisanal salt is a pure reflection of its origin.

Choosing an artisanal salt is about more than just seasoning; it’s about connecting with the food we eat on a more meaningful level. It’s an invitation to slow down and appreciate the subtle complexities that nature provides. From the hands that harvest it to the unique environment that shapes it, every crystal carries a history.

A Return to Traditional Harvesting

At the heart of artisanal salt is a deep respect for tradition. Many of these salts are gathered using methods passed down through generations, techniques that honor the rhythm of the earth. This is a world away from industrial harvesting. Instead of machinery, there are hands. Instead of haste, there is patience. Our Colima Sea Salt, for example, is hand-harvested from the salt flats of Mexico, where it’s naturally filtered through ancient volcanic earth. This time-honored process ensures the salt’s rich mineral profile and delicate flavor remain perfectly intact, offering a taste of its unique heritage.

Sourced from Pure, Mineral-Rich Waters

The character of an artisanal salt is born from its source. Just as wine has terroir, so does salt. The specific body of water—be it a pristine ocean, an ancient sea bed, or a mountain spring—imparts a distinct mineral composition and flavor. Artisanal producers intentionally use minimal processing to preserve this natural essence. The result is a salt that’s not just salty, but complex. You might notice subtle notes of sweetness or a clean, mineral brightness. By keeping these natural elements, we get to experience a fuller, more authentic flavor in every dish we prepare with our gourmet goods.

A Commitment to Sustainable Practices

When you choose artisanal salt, you’re often supporting more than just a product; you’re supporting a philosophy. Many small-scale salt producers are deeply committed to sustainable harvesting and ethical partnerships that honor both the environment and the local community. This conscious approach ensures the salt flats can be harvested for generations to come without depleting the natural ecosystem. Turning a simple seasoning into a meaningful choice is a beautiful way to invest in the well-being of the planet and the people who steward it. This is the ethos that guides us at Santa Prisca & Co..

Artisanal Salt Brands to Know and Love

Exploring the world of artisanal salt is like discovering the terroir of wine. Each crystal tells a story of its origin—the mineral-rich earth it came from, the hands that harvested it, and the traditions it represents. Moving beyond the uniform shaker of table salt opens up a new dimension in the kitchen, where salt is not just a seasoning, but a foundational ingredient that adds texture, complexity, and a true sense of place to every dish.

From the sun-drenched flats of Mexico to the ancient seabeds beneath the Appalachian Mountains, each salt carries a unique mineral profile and crystal structure. This diversity is what makes them so special. Some salts have a delicate, flaky crunch perfect for finishing a dish, while others offer a potent, briny depth that can transform a simple soup or stew. Getting to know these salt producers is a wonderful way to connect more deeply with your ingredients and bring more intention to your cooking. Here are a few of our favorite brands that honor the craft of salt harvesting.

Santa Prisca & Co: Volcanic-Filtered Colima Sea Salt

Sourced from the pristine salt flats of Colima, Mexico, this is a salt with a soul. Our Colima Sea Salt is a testament to the power of nature and tradition. The salt water is naturally filtered through volcanic earth, a process that imbues each crystal with a rich profile of essential minerals. Hand-harvested by artisans who have practiced their craft for generations, our salt is completely unrefined and free from additives. The result is a clean, crisp flavor with a subtle sweetness and a burst of mineral depth that enhances food without overpowering it. It’s the perfect all-purpose salt for both cooking and finishing.

Jacobsen Salt Co: Pacific Northwest Craftsmanship

Evoking the wild, clean spirit of the Oregon coast, Jacobsen Salt Co. harvests its salt from the cold waters of Netarts Bay. This salt is known for its bright, briny flavor and delicate, flaky texture that dissolves beautifully on the palate. The company was founded on the dream of creating the first salt harvested in the Pacific Northwest since the 1800s, and that passion is evident in the quality of their product. Their pure sea salt is a versatile pantry staple, but they also offer a beautiful range of infused salts that capture the culinary spirit of their region.

J.Q. Dickinson Salt Works: Appalachian Mountain Salt

This salt’s story begins millions of years ago, in an ancient ocean trapped deep beneath the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia. J.Q. Dickinson Salt Works, a seventh-generation family business, taps this pristine source to create a salt that is truly unique. Because it’s sourced from the earth rather than the sea, it has a distinct mineral profile and a pure, potent flavor. The salt is harvested by hand and dried by the sun, resulting in beautiful, varied crystals. It’s a taste of ancient history, brought to the modern kitchen with care and intention.

Maldon Sea Salt Company: Classic English Pyramid Flakes

If you’ve ever admired the delicate, pyramid-shaped crystals atop a chocolate chip cookie or a perfectly cooked steak, you’ve likely encountered Maldon Sea Salt. Harvested from the coastal town of Maldon in Essex, England, since 1882, this salt is beloved by chefs and home cooks for its signature soft, flaky crunch. The unique shape of the flakes means they don’t dissolve instantly, allowing for a delightful textural experience. It’s a quintessential finishing salt that adds a clean, fresh flavor and a satisfying crispness to everything it touches, from salads to caramel desserts.

Celtic Sea Salt: Mineral-Dense French Grey Salt

Harvested from the coastal region of Brittany, France, Celtic Sea Salt is known for its distinctive light grey hue and moist texture. The color comes from the pure clay lining of the salt beds, which enriches the salt with a wealth of minerals and trace elements. This salt, also known as sel gris, is unrefined and harvested using traditional Celtic methods. Its briny, complex flavor is less sharp than other salts, and its high mineral content makes it a favorite among those seeking to add more natural nutrients to their diet. It’s wonderful in stews, roasts, and for baking.

Fleur de Sel de Guérande: The Quintessential Finishing Salt

Often called the "caviar of salts," Fleur de Sel de Guérande is one of the most prized finishing salts in the world. The name translates to "flower of salt," a nod to the way it’s harvested. On warm, sunny days, these delicate, flaky crystals form on the very top layer of the salt ponds in Guérande, France. Artisans carefully skim the fragile crystals by hand before they can sink to the bottom. With its light, airy texture and nuanced flavor, it’s meant to be used as a final touch, sprinkled over dishes just before serving to preserve its delicate crunch and subtle taste of the sea.

How Artisanal Salt Transforms Your Cooking

Switching from standard table salt to an artisanal sea salt is one of the simplest yet most profound shifts you can make in your kitchen. It’s not just about adding salinity; it’s about introducing texture, mineral depth, and a story to your food. A great salt doesn’t just season a dish—it awakens its inherent flavors, turning a simple meal into a memorable experience. Let's explore how these beautiful crystals can completely change the way you cook and taste.

Unlocking Complex Flavors and Minerals

Unlike highly processed table salt, which is stripped of its natural minerals, artisanal salts are harvested with minimal intervention. This gentle process preserves a rich spectrum of trace minerals that contribute to a salt’s unique character, offering a flavor that is far more complex than simple sodium chloride. Our Colima Sea Salt, for example, is naturally filtered through volcanic earth, which imparts a subtle, almost sweet mineral depth that enhances food without overpowering it. This is the difference between a flat, one-note saltiness and a vibrant seasoning that makes every ingredient shine.

The Importance of Crystal Structure and Texture

The physical form of salt is just as important as its mineral content. The size and shape of each crystal dictate how it feels in your mouth and how it interacts with food. A fine-grain salt dissolves quickly, integrating seamlessly into a dish. A larger, flakier crystal, however, provides a delightful, crisp texture that lingers on the tongue. Think of the satisfying crunch of a coarse salt sprinkled over a ripe tomato or a warm chocolate chip cookie. This textural contrast adds another layer of sensory experience to your meal, making each bite more interesting and dynamic.

Using Salt for Cooking vs. Finishing

Understanding when to use your salt is key. For general cooking, a finer grain artisanal salt can season soups, stews, and marinades, allowing its flavor to build from within the dish. But the real magic often happens at the end. A finishing salt is meant to be sprinkled over food just before serving for a final burst of clean salinity and that signature crunch. Imagine a pinch of flaky sea salt over grilled fish, roasted vegetables, or even a caramel dessert. It creates these little pockets of intense flavor that elevate the entire dish from good to truly exceptional.

Comprehensive infographic guide showing artisanal salt selection criteria, cooking applications by crystal size, proper storage methods, health benefits of mineral content, and quality verification techniques for sourcing authentic hand-harvested salts

Exploring the World of Specialty Salts

Once you begin to appreciate the nuance of artisanal salt, a whole world of flavor opens up. Beyond the classic finishing flake, you’ll find salts that have been smoked, infused with herbs, or harvested from unique geological regions, each carrying the story of its origin. These specialty salts are more than just seasoning; they are an invitation to experiment, to add depth, smoke, or a whisper of the wild to your cooking. They become a secret ingredient, a final touch that transforms a simple meal into something truly memorable.

Delicate Finishing Flakes

Finishing flakes are the darlings of the salt world for a reason. They are light, crisp, and dissolve with a gentle burst of clean salinity. Think of the beautiful, pyramid-shaped crystals that add a delicate crunch to a chocolate chip cookie or a perfectly ripe tomato. A wonderful example comes from Jacobsen Salt Co., where salt is hand-harvested from the cold waters of the Oregon Coast. Their flakes are known for a pure, briny flavor and a delicate texture that enhances food without overpowering it. Using a finishing flake is a small ritual—a final flourish that adds both texture and a clean, bright taste.

Smoked, Aged, and Infused Varieties

For those who love to layer flavors, infused and smoked salts are a game-changer. These are salts that have spent time absorbing the essence of other ingredients, from fragrant wood smoke to earthy herbs and fiery peppers. Imagine the deep, savory aroma of an Apple Wood smoked salt on grilled vegetables or the complex heat of a Ghost Pepper salt on roasted chicken. Companies like J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile offer an incredible range of these creative salts, from Bourbon Barrel smoked to Ramp-infused varieties. They provide a simple way to introduce complexity and a touch of the unexpected to your favorite dishes, adding a story of flavor in a single pinch.

Unique Regional Harvests

Some salts are defined entirely by their sense of place, or terroir. Their flavor and mineral composition are a direct reflection of the environment where they were harvested. Our own Colima Sea Salt is a perfect example of this beautiful connection to the land. Sourced from one of the purest salt flats in Mexico, it is naturally filtered through volcanic earth. This ancient process imbues the salt with a rich mineral profile and a subtle, complex flavor you won’t find anywhere else. These regional salts carry the heritage of their harvest, offering a taste of a specific corner of the world and connecting your kitchen to a time-honored tradition.

The Wellness Benefits of Unrefined Sea Salt

Salt has often been misunderstood in the wellness world, but the conversation is shifting. We’re beginning to understand that the source and quality of our salt matter immensely. Unlike the stark white, heavily processed table salt found in most shakers, unrefined sea salt is a completely different ingredient—one that can be a beautiful part of a mindful, nourishing kitchen. It’s not just about adding salinity; it’s about adding depth, texture, and a story to your food.

When salt is harvested by hand and left in its natural state, it’s more than just sodium chloride. It’s a complex crystal carrying a spectrum of trace minerals from the sea, each one contributing to its unique flavor profile and color. This is where the real magic lies. Choosing an unrefined salt is a simple act of intention, a way to connect with the earth and bring its elemental goodness to your table. It’s about honoring food as it was meant to be, with its full mineral profile intact, ready to support your body’s natural rhythms and delight your palate. This small shift in the kitchen can create a profound change in how you approach both cooking and your own well-being.

Why Natural Minerals Matter

Think of unrefined salt as a whole food. Much like the difference between whole wheat flour and bleached white flour, the distinction lies in what’s been stripped away. Standard table salt undergoes intense processing that removes its natural mineral content, leaving behind a harsh, one-dimensional flavor. Artisanal salts, on the other hand, are handled with care to preserve their unique character.

This minimal processing means the salt retains a wealth of trace minerals absorbed from its environment—whether it’s filtered through volcanic earth or harvested from pristine coastal waters. These minerals don’t just contribute to a more nuanced, gentle flavor; they are essential micronutrients our bodies recognize and use. It’s a return to tradition, where salt was valued not just for preservation, but for its life-sustaining properties.

Supporting Hydration and Electrolyte Balance

Proper hydration is about more than just drinking water; it’s about ensuring your body has the electrolytes it needs to function. Electrolytes are minerals that carry an electric charge, and they are vital for everything from muscle contractions to nerve signals. Unrefined sea salt is a wonderful natural source of these essential minerals, including magnesium, potassium, and calcium.

A pinch of high-quality Colima Sea Salt in your water after a workout or on a hot day can help replenish what you’ve lost through sweat. Instead of reaching for a sugary sports drink, this simple, natural solution supports your body’s equilibrium. It’s a small ritual that helps you feel more energized and connected, turning a basic need like hydration into a moment of intentional self-care.

Aiding Digestion and Overall Wellness

Good digestion is the foundation of well-being, and salt plays a surprisingly important role. Chloride, a key component of salt, is necessary for the body to produce stomach acid (hydrochloric acid). Sufficient stomach acid is crucial for breaking down food, absorbing nutrients, and protecting against harmful pathogens. Using a pure, unrefined sea salt in your cooking supports this fundamental digestive process.

When you choose a salt that is ethically sourced and free from additives, you are making a choice that honors both the environment and your body. This respect for nature is reflected in the quality of the final product, which contributes to your overall wellness. It’s a reminder that the most powerful ingredients are often the simplest, offered to us directly from the earth.

Understanding the Value of Artisanal Salt

When we begin to cook with more intention, we realize that every ingredient has a story. Salt, the most fundamental of seasonings, is no exception. Shifting from a simple commodity to a cherished pantry staple, artisanal salt represents an investment in flavor, wellness, and the preservation of tradition. It’s about understanding that the price reflects not just a product, but a process—one rooted in place, patience, and purity. This kind of salt isn't just an ingredient; it's a connection to the earth and to the hands that harvested it, offering a depth that transforms a simple meal into a meaningful moment.

Pricing for Premium Finishing Salts

It’s true that artisanal salt comes with a higher price tag than its mass-produced counterparts. This difference isn’t arbitrary; it’s a direct reflection of the meticulous, often manual, labor required to harvest it. Think of the sun-drenched salt pans and the skilled hands that gently rake the delicate crystals from the water's surface. You’ll often find these salts offered in various sizes, from small jars perfect for finishing a dish to larger bags for stocking your pantry. The cost honors the commitment to quality, the mineral-rich sourcing, and the small-batch craftsmanship that ensures every crystal is free of additives and full of character.

Finding Your Everyday Cooking Salt

While delicate finishing flakes are perfect for that final flourish, the world of artisanal salt extends far beyond special occasions. Many producers offer versatile, all-purpose salts that can completely transform your daily cooking. A pinch of pure, unrefined sea salt can bring a surprising depth to roasted vegetables, morning eggs, or a simple pot of soup. Look for a salt with a texture that feels right for your style of cooking. A slightly coarser grain, like our Colima Sea Salt, is a beautiful workhorse in the kitchen, dissolving evenly while imparting a clean, balanced salinity that enhances every other flavor in the dish.

Options for Bulk and Wholesale

Once you experience the difference a high-quality salt makes, it’s hard to go back. For home cooks who use it daily or for chefs and small business owners, buying in larger quantities is often a practical and economical choice. Many artisanal companies recognize this and provide options for larger bags or even wholesale accounts. Stocking up ensures you always have this essential ingredient on hand, making it easier to integrate the practice of intentional seasoning into your everyday kitchen rhythm. If you’re interested in bringing our salt into your professional kitchen or shop, you can learn more about our wholesale inquiries.

Why It's Worth the Investment

Ultimately, investing in artisanal salt is about valuing the experience of eating. It’s about the unique flavors and textures that simply can’t be replicated by processed table salt. Each crystal carries the essence of its origin, offering a subtle complexity and a satisfying crunch that turns food from mundane to memorable. Beyond the palate, it’s a choice that supports your well-being. Unrefined sea salts retain their natural trace minerals, which play a role in hydration and overall balance. It’s a small but meaningful way to connect with your food, honor ancient traditions, and support the artisans who preserve them. When you’re ready to explore, you can find a salt that speaks to you in our full collection.

Where to Find Authentic Artisanal Salt

Once you begin to appreciate the nuance of artisanal salt, the search for it becomes a rewarding part of the cooking process. Finding a salt that resonates with your palate and values connects you more deeply to your food and its origins. Whether you prefer to shop online or in person, there are wonderful sources waiting to be discovered.

Buying Directly from the Source

There’s a special connection that comes from buying directly from the artisans who harvest the salt. It’s an opportunity to learn their story, understand their process, and ensure you’re getting the freshest, most authentic product. When you shop directly from producers like us, you’re supporting a tradition rooted in the rich heritage of a place. Our Colima Sea Salt, for example, is hand-harvested from one of the purest salt flats in the world, a process that honors generations of craftsmanship and delivers a pure, mineral-rich flavor straight to your kitchen.

Exploring Specialty Food Shops

Wandering the aisles of a specialty food shop is a sensory experience. These curated spaces are treasure troves for culinary enthusiasts, often staffed by passionate people who can guide you to the perfect salt. You might discover a regional gem you’ve never heard of or find a salt described with such care that you can almost taste it—brightly saline and almost sweet as it dissolves. These shops are a beautiful way to explore different textures and flavor profiles in person, turning a simple errand into an inspiring outing and a deeper connection with your ingredients.

Discovering Online Marketplaces

The digital world opens up access to artisanal salts from every corner of the globe. Online marketplaces allow you to compare different brands and read reviews from fellow home cooks. When shopping online, look for transparency. A producer should be proud to tell you that their salt is 100% unrefined and free from additives. This is your assurance that you’re getting the cleanest, most mineral-rich flavor, like our Colima Sea Salt, delivered straight from the source to your kitchen.

Shopping at Local Farmers Markets

There is a unique energy at a farmers market—a direct line from the earth to your hands. It’s where you can meet the people behind the products, ask questions, and feel the passion they have for their craft. You’ll often find regional salt makers who are proud to offer what they believe is the world’s most flavorful sea salt. Supporting these small-scale producers not only gives you a beautiful product but also strengthens your local food community. You can find a market near you and make it part of your weekly ritual.

What to Look for in Customer Reviews

When you’re exploring something as personal as flavor, hearing from others who have already experienced it can be incredibly helpful. It’s like getting a recommendation from a friend who shares your love for good food. Customer reviews offer a window into how a salt truly performs in a real kitchen, beyond the beautiful product descriptions. They are honest stories from home cooks and chefs, sharing their discoveries about flavor, texture, and the small moments of joy a special ingredient can bring to a meal. Reading through them helps you understand the nuances that make each artisanal salt unique, guiding you toward the one that will feel most at home in your cooking.

Notes on Flavor and Performance

This is where the real magic is revealed. Look for descriptions that go beyond "salty." Does it have a mineral depth? A subtle sweetness? Reviewers often share beautiful, sensory details, noting how a salt is "brightly saline and almost sweet" as it dissolves on the tongue. These personal accounts tell you how the salt performs—whether its delicate flakes are perfect for finishing a dish or if its robust character holds up in slow-cooked recipes. When someone takes the time to explain how a salt’s taste is distinct from others they’ve tried, you know you’ve found something special.

The Importance of Quality Packaging

The experience of using an artisanal salt begins the moment you hold it in your hands. Thoughtful packaging does more than just protect the salt; it honors the ingredient inside. As one customer beautifully put it, the packaging itself "makes it feel special" when you use it. Look for reviews that mention the quality of the container, whether it’s a beautiful glass jar, a reusable pouch, or a ceramic cellar. Good packaging preserves the salt’s texture and purity while adding a touch of intention and beauty to your kitchen counter, turning a simple seasoning into a small daily ritual.

Feedback on Value and Versatility

A truly great salt becomes an indispensable part of your kitchen. Reviews can show you how versatile a salt is and whether it provides lasting value. When you read about someone’s experience sharing meals, you learn that the salt is a resounding success with friends and family. This kind of feedback speaks volumes about its quality and ability to enhance shared moments. It’s not just about the price per ounce, but about the flavor and joy it brings to your table. These stories help you find a salt that you’ll reach for again and again, for every kind of dish.

How to Choose Your Perfect Artisanal Salt

Finding the right artisanal salt is a beautifully personal process, much like choosing your favorite olive oil or coffee beans. It’s about connecting with an ingredient that not only enhances flavor but also aligns with your values and wellness intentions. When you’re ready to move beyond generic table salt, the world of artisanal salt opens up with a stunning variety of textures, mineral profiles, and stories.

Think of it as curating your pantry with purpose. The perfect salt for you will depend on how you cook, what you believe in, and how you want to nourish yourself and your loved ones. Let’s walk through a few simple considerations to help you find a salt that feels like it was harvested just for you.

Match the Salt to Your Cooking Style

First, consider how you spend your time in the kitchen. Are you a baker, a griller, or someone who loves to put the final flourish on a dish? Artisanal salts are prized for their unique flavors and textures, which makes them incredibly versatile. A delicate, flaky finishing salt is perfect for sprinkling over a finished salad or a chocolate tart, where its crisp texture can truly shine. A coarser, more robust grain, like our Colima Sea Salt, is wonderful for seasoning meats before grilling or creating a salt crust on fish, as it dissolves more slowly and evenly, imparting a gentle mineral depth.

Look for Transparency in Sourcing

Where your salt comes from matters. The story behind the salt—the land, the water, and the hands that harvested it—is part of its essence. When choosing a brand, look for transparency. Do they share where and how their salt is harvested? Ethical sourcing is rooted in a profound respect for the environment and the community. Supporting producers who are committed to sustainable practices and ethical partnerships turns a simple seasoning into a meaningful investment in the well-being of our planet and its people. It’s about working in partnership with nature, not against it.

Consider Your Wellness Goals

Artisanal salts are more than just flavor; they are a source of essential minerals. Unlike highly processed table salt, which is stripped of its natural components, unrefined sea salts retain important minerals like magnesium, potassium, and calcium. When you choose a salt that is 100% unrefined and free from additives, you’re choosing the cleanest, most mineral-rich flavor straight from the source. This simple switch is a beautiful way to support your body’s hydration, electrolyte balance, and overall wellness with every pinch. It’s a small act of intention that adds nourishment back to your plate.

Balance Price with Availability

Finally, let’s talk about practicality. While some finishing salts are a precious investment, finding a high-quality everyday salt doesn’t have to be complicated. Many artisanal producers offer their products in various sizes, from small samplers to larger bags perfect for refilling your salt cellar. You might decide to have one special finishing salt for those memorable meals and a more accessible, high-quality coarse salt for all of your daily cooking. Exploring a brand’s full collection can help you find the perfect balance for your kitchen and your budget.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the main difference between artisanal salt and the table salt I'm used to? Think of it as the difference between a whole food and a highly processed one. Standard table salt is stripped of its natural minerals, leaving behind pure sodium chloride with a harsh, one-note flavor. Artisanal salt, on the other hand, is harvested with minimal intervention, so it retains a beautiful spectrum of trace minerals from its source. This gives it a more complex, nuanced flavor and a unique texture that truly enhances your food.

Can I use artisanal salt for all my cooking, or is it just for finishing? You can absolutely use it for everything! While delicate finishing flakes are wonderful for that final touch, a high-quality, all-purpose artisanal salt will transform your everyday cooking. Many people like to keep two types on hand: a versatile, slightly coarser grain for seasoning soups, roasts, and vegetables, and a special flaky salt for sprinkling over dishes just before they hit the table.

You mention minerals and wellness. Is unrefined sea salt actually better for me? While all salt should be used in moderation, unrefined sea salt offers more than just salinity. Because it isn't heavily processed, it retains trace minerals like magnesium and potassium that our bodies use to support natural functions like hydration and digestion. Choosing an unrefined salt is a simple way to use an ingredient in its whole, natural form, free from the anti-caking agents and additives found in table salt.

There are so many options! If I'm just starting, which type of artisanal salt should I try first? A great place to begin is with a versatile, all-purpose sea salt that has a clean, balanced flavor. Our Colima Sea Salt is a perfect example because its pure, mineral-rich taste enhances everything without overpowering it. Starting with a foundational salt like this allows you to really notice the difference in your daily cooking, from morning eggs to evening meals.

Why is artisanal salt more expensive, and is the difference in flavor really noticeable? The price reflects the incredible amount of care and manual labor that goes into harvesting it. Unlike industrial production, artisanal salt is often hand-raked and harvested in small batches, honoring traditional and sustainable methods. The difference in flavor is immediately noticeable. It’s not just about being "salty"—it’s about a cleaner taste, a more complex mineral profile, and a satisfying texture that brings food to life.