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Salts of the World

The World of Salt

15 signature salts, and how to use them

From a Welsh flake salt with Champagne-style legal protection to a Filipino salt sold in a cracked clay “egg”: where each salt comes from, how it is made, and what it is best for.

Sea salts

Made by evaporating seawater, by sun and wind or over a fire.

Illustration of Fleur de sel de GuérandeFrance · Sea saltFleur de sel de Guérandefinishing saltBest for Caramel, tomatoes, eggsIllustration of Sel gris (grey salt)France · Sea saltSel gris (grey salt)grey sea saltBest for Roasting, pasta water, brinesIllustration of Maldon sea saltEngland · Sea saltMaldon sea saltpyramid flakesBest for Steak, salads, breadIllustration of Halen Môn (Anglesey sea salt)Wales · Sea saltHalen Môn (Anglesey sea salt)protected Welsh flakesBest for Finishing, bakingIllustration of Trapani sea saltItaly · Sea saltTrapani sea saltsun and wind saltBest for Fish and vegetablesIllustration of Piran saltSlovenia · Sea saltPiran saltgrown on algaeBest for Everyday cooking

Rock and spring salts

Mined from ancient underground deposits, or drawn from salty springs and groundwater.

Illustration of Himalayan pink saltPakistan · Rock saltHimalayan pink saltpink rock saltBest for Cooking, salt blocksIllustration of Añana spring saltSpain · Spring saltAñana spring saltmountain spring saltBest for Cooking and finishingIllustration of Murray River pink salt flakesAustralia · Brine saltMurray River pink salt flakespink brine flakesBest for Salads, fish, bakingIllustration of Kosher saltUnited States · Kitchen saltKosher saltcoarse kitchen saltBest for Seasoning by hand

Salts with a twist

Salts that are roasted, fired, coloured or filtered through ash or seaweed.

Illustration of Kala namak (Indian black salt)India and South Asia · Specialty saltKala namak (Indian black salt)kiln-fired, eggyBest for Chaat, raita, tofu scrambleIllustration of Alaea salt (Hawaiian red salt)United States (Hawaiʻi) · Specialty saltAlaea salt (Hawaiian red salt)red volcanic clayBest for Kalua pig, pokeIllustration of Bamboo salt (jugyeom)South Korea · Specialty saltBamboo salt (jugyeom)roasted nine timesBest for SeasoningIllustration of Moshio (seaweed salt)Japan · Specialty saltMoshio (seaweed salt)seaweed saltBest for Rice and vegetablesIllustration of Asin tibuok (“dinosaur egg” salt)Philippines · Specialty saltAsin tibuok (“dinosaur egg” salt)the dinosaur eggBest for Grated over hot rice

Salt illustrations: The Salt Almanac.

Label check

What salt labels claim, and what's actually true

Specialty salts are often sold with health promises. We list the common ones so you can recognise them, and mark each one unverified unless good evidence supports it. Whatever the colour or price, nearly every salt here is mostly sodium chloride.

Himalayan pink salt“Rich in minerals; contains dozens of trace minerals”Unverified claimWhat the evidence says: It is 96–99% sodium chloride. The trace minerals add up to well under 1%, far too little to matter in the amounts anyone eats.Kala namak (Indian black salt)“Improves digestion and relieves gas”Unverified claimWhat the evidence says: Kala namak is used this way in traditional South Asian medicine, but we found no good clinical evidence for it. It is still mostly sodium chloride.Bamboo salt (jugyeom)“Detoxifies the body and has special healing powers”Unverified claimWhat the evidence says: Bamboo salt is part of Korean folk medicine, but it is 85–98% sodium chloride, and we found no good human evidence for these claims.Sel gris (grey salt)““Celtic” grey sea salt supports adrenal and digestive health”Unverified claimWhat the evidence says: No evidence. Grey sea salt is mostly sodium chloride with some moisture and clay minerals. “Celtic” is a brand name, not a type of salt.

Cite this page

For school projects and reports. Teachers often prefer the original sources too: see the list below.

The Salt Almanac. (2026, November 8). Salts of the world. https://saltalmanac.com/salts