Añana spring salt
Salt from springs in a Basque mountain valley, where salt has been made for some 7,000 years.
Sal de Añana (Añanako gatza)
At a glance
| Origin | Salt Valley of Añana, Basque Country, Spain |
|---|---|
| Type | Rock and spring salt |
| How it's made | Very salty water rises from four springs at the head of the valley and runs along channels to numerous terraced pans, where sun and wind evaporate it. |
| Colour and texture | White crystals. |
| Best for | Everyday cooking and finishing. |
| Swap with | A good sea salt or fleur de sel. |
| Inland, not sea | The brine comes from springs, so this salt is made inland, not on the coast. |
The story
People were boiling the spring water in pottery here about 7,000 years ago. The town was chartered in 1140, Philip II made salt a royal monopoly in 1564, and the channels were rebuilt in 1801. Cheaper sea salt almost killed the valley in the 20th century, and it has been gradually restored since the late 1900s.
Salt words on this page
Similar salts
Pakistan · Rock saltHimalayan pink saltpink rock saltBest for Cooking, salt blocks
Italy · Sea saltTrapani sea saltsun and wind saltBest for Fish and vegetables
Australia · Brine saltMurray River pink salt flakespink brine flakesBest for Salads, fish, bakingCite this page
For school projects and reports. Teachers often prefer the original sources too: see the list below.
The Salt Almanac. (2026, November 8). Añana spring salt. https://saltalmanac.com/salts/anana-salt
“Añana spring salt | Salts of the World.” The Salt Almanac, 8 Nov. 2026, saltalmanac.com/salts/anana-salt. Accessed [today's date].
“Añana spring salt | Salts of the World.” The Salt Almanac. Last modified November 8, 2026. https://saltalmanac.com/salts/anana-salt.
Original sources
- Wikipedia. Salt Valley of Añana. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Valley_of_A%C3%B1ana