Sea Salts
Sea salt is the broadly used term that refers to most unrefined salt derived from the sea or ocean. It is produced by channeling sea water into large clay trays while the sun and wind evaporate it naturally.
Because the manufacturers of Sea Salt do little refining, the salt contains trace amounts of minerals including iron, calcuim, potassium, zinc, iodine, and magnesium. Sea salt is 98% sodium chloride, compared to table salt's 99.9% purity.
Many proponents of sea salt believe it to be much more flavorful than standard table salt. Chefs primarily use sea salt or kosher salt as a crust for baked potatoes or in French and Thai-inspired cuisine.
Sea salt is actually not quite as 'salty' as table salt, so recipes may have be adjusted for taste. Sea salt is generally more expensive than other seasonings, although some critics argue that the flavor benefits of sea salt may not justify the additional cost.
How to Use Sea Salt
Gourmet's cooks like using it because of its texture and size. The texture allows them to grab a pinch between their fingers and measure out how much they need. Try doing that with table salt.
They also like the unique flavor of sea salt but truth is that comes from the trace minerals and clay that you find in commercial sea salts not from the salt itself.
Where you can really notice a difference between sea salts and table salts is when you sprinkle it on uncooked foods. This way you taste the salt as soon as you put the food into your mouth. Once you add sea salt to your heated cooking such as soups and stews, the salt disolves and is no different than any other kind of salt.
Where to Purchase Good Quality Sea Salt
You can find Fleur de Sel sea salt in any gourmet market but if you want to purchase it online, here are some good resources:
GourmetFoodStore.com - Fleur de Sel, Gray Sea Salt,
ClubSauce.com - Fleur de Sel from Brittany
