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The White Gold of the Algarve |
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| The »Ria Formosa« is a sheltered coastal region with nearly no industrial pollution. Its intact nature, the purity of the Atlantic waters and careful hand-harvesting are the key factors to obtain a white sea salt without washing. This salt is harvested on 3 quality levels: |
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Flor de Sal
Flor de Sal is the finest flower of sea salt. It appears as a thin layer floating on the surface of the brine. These first fragile crystals are carefully skimmed off every day in good weather conditions and only sun dried before packing. |
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Sal Tradicional
This unprocessed seasalt comes from small traditional crystallizer ponds. Salt crystals originate from the concentrating brine and precipitate to the clay bottom of the ponds. The salt is harvested every 10 to 14 days, by hand with wooden rakes, and shaped into piles beneath the pans. Sun drying maintains the natural moisture and the sea water's minerals. |
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Sal do Mar
At the end of the season this quality salt is harvested by small machinery, in most cases by a carefully guided mini loader. The salt cristals are of a more solid structure. Thus, Sal do Mar is often sold ground and is a little less soluble in water. |
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| Harvesting Sal Tradicional |
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| Sal do Mar piled up for storage |
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