Himalayan Salt and More – Discover the Top 5 Types of Salt in the UK

Salt is an essential ingredient in most savoury dishes and the type of salt you use matters. There are different types of salt available in the UK, and each carries a distinct flavour, presentation, and unique characteristics. So if you are a home chef with a passion for exploring different flavours, then familiarising yourself with the best salt varieties in the UK comes in handy. This article will explore the top 5 types of salt in the UK, including Himalayan Salt, and their reasons for popularity – so keep reading.

1. Himalayan Salt (Pink Salt)

Himalayan Salt has emerged as a key ingredient in gourmet foods due to its unique flavour and health benefits. Not to mention, this premium salt stands out due to its orange-pink colouration, which makes it particularly distinctive. Himalayan Salt comes from the Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan and, unlike regular table salt, it is not refined or processed. With that said, you have to ensure that you use food-grade pink salt for cooking purposes instead of the regular variety.

Authentic pink salt is mined and transported thousands of feet underground, which means its supply is always lower than the demand. Apart from being used as a food flavouring, Himalayan Salt is popular as a natural decorative material. You can find Himalayan Salt products made from pure Himalayan Salt at Gemstone Gifts.

Benefits:

• Contains up to 84 trace minerals including magnesium.
• Natural, non-refined alternative to regular salt.
• A versatile option used for cooking, décor, and food presentation.

Reason for popularity: Himalayan Salt aligns with the growing trend of using natural, minimally processed foods in the UK. Its natural, minimally processed nature makes it a trendy option for health-conscious individuals.

2. Table Salt

Table salt is a highly refined salt commonly found in UK households. Unlike pink salt, table salt is heavily processed to remove impurities and often comes with the addition of iodine. This type of salt is meant to be inexpensive and easy to use. Most table salt brands also treat it with an anticaking coating so it doesn’t form clumps while stored in a container.

The UK has significant underground deposits of salt; however, we also import salt from Spain, Belgium, Germany, Tunisia, and Pakistan to meet demand. Thanks to local mining and multiple import sources, table salt is easily available in any supermarket near you.

Benefits:

• An affordable option for seasoning and flavouring savoury dishes.
• Consistent flavour due to its processed nature.

Reason for popularity: Table salt has been used in the UK for generations, making it the go-to salt for home chefs. However, due to its processed nature, table salt is stripped of natural minerals.

3. Sea Salt

Sea salt, as the name suggests, is sourced from evaporated seawater and, similar to Himalayan Salt, contains trace minerals. There are a few different brands that sell sea salt in the UK, with Maldon sea salt and Halen Môn being the top options.

Home chefs adore sea salt; especially, Maldon’s salt is highly sought after for its flavour and purity. Similar to pink salt, when buying sea salt you should ensure you purchase it from a reliable source to obtain the authentic flavour.

Benefits:

• Contains magnesium, calcium, and potassium along with other trace minerals.
• Enhances the taste and flavour of dishes.

Reason for popularity: Sea salt brands such as Maldon are recognised worldwide for their authenticity.

4. Rock Salt

Rock salt has never been a common salt in the UK—or anywhere in the world, for that matter. However, it has been gaining popularity as a seasoning salt in UK kitchens. Every year, over 2 million tonnes of rock salt are used for de-icing the roads in the UK, thanks to it being a cheap and easily available form of salt. If you want to use rock salt for cooking, however, you have to contend with large chunks because it is not sold in fine form.

Rock salt is mostly used in combination with rustic cooking techniques in the UK and around the world. When a dish requires extra texture and a strong flavour, you can add rock salt to meet these requirements.

Benefits:

• Easily available across the UK.
• An affordable form of salt.
• Adds a crunch to dishes that need it.

Reason for popularity: It is commonly used for de-icing roads during winter.

5. Kosher Salt

Kosher salt is the least common type of salt in the UK as it has its roots in Jewish traditions. However, it is still available in the UK and is often used in very specific cooking applications. So even though kosher salt isn’t a household name in the UK, it is gaining popularity.

Benefits:

• Easy to sprinkle over foods.
• Pure, unprocessed salt.
• Effective for removing excess moisture from meat.

Reason for popularity: Although kosher salt is more popular in the USA, it is used by some celebrity chefs such as Jamie Oliver.

Conclusion

The choice of salt you use for a dish varies based on the recipe and its requirements. However, Himalayan pink salt has seen a significant rise in its applications in décor, well-being, and cooking in the UK. If you are looking for authentic Himalayan Salt-based products, then Gemstone Gifts is the go-to resource in the UK for pink salt décor and wellbeing-focused items.