This white powder is something people cannot live without. Its consumption goes beyond addiction. It is fondly called white gold. Wars have been fought over it in history.
Sodium chloride, commonly called salt, is one spice that few culinary creations can be created without. It not only enhances the taste and aroma of food, but also helps suppress certain flavors which the human tongue can do without.
Salt is processed by two methods- harvesting from sea water or mining from inland salt mines. A long time ago, salt mining, mainly from African countries was a very dangerous job. The miners could die from mining accidents, get robbed en route- since salt was a precious commodity- or die of dehydration. Things have not changed much since then. It is still dangerous, but the value of common salt has come down in recent times.
There are four main kinds of salt: kosher salt, table salt, fleur de sel, and sea salt. Kosher salt is so called as it is used in preparing kosher meat; table salt is the most common and widely used variety; fleur de sel is a kind of sea salt harvested in summer months; and sea salt is more grainier, and less saltier than table salt.
To some, salt still remains a precious commodity. Just as there are many different kinds of wine and wine-tasting parties are held by those who can afford it, so is the case with salt. Salt tasting soirees are held by many, and flavored salts are all the rage among these circles.
Some say that like fine wine, the French make good salt too. Like the numerous Bordeaux wine, different kinds of Fremch salts, like fleur de sel and sel gris (grey salt) are salts that are well appreciated by many.
And then there are those salts which are hand-made, and made to taste like the maker's favorite food. The three categories under this are the mineral salts, smoked salts and infused salts. Mineral salts are earthy, and acidic to taste. The most notable one in this category is the kala namak, (literally, black salt) an Indian salt which tastes slightly eggy, due to the presence of sulphur.
Smoked salts have a woody taste, and infused salts are those that have been infused with the flavor of some other food, like herbs or fruits. Some infused, or flavored salts, making the rounds these days seem to be the Bloody Mary and Citrus salt. They are a bit on the expensive side but said to be worth the money.
So, how much of a salt-freak are you?
