The process of making sea salt the traditional way can be considered simple, in the sense that it is a manual process, performed without the help of machinery. On the other hand, it is a complex process that requires a wide knowledge on a variety of topics. Perhaps without knowing it, the person in charge of a saltworks is simultaneously an artisan, a chemist, an engineer, a meteorologist and a mathematician. In addition to those qualities the person must possess the traits of a farmer... i.e. patience, endurance and perseverance.

Preparing the ponds and harvesting the salt is hard work. Long days in the hot sun and heavy loads are the norm. Yet there is a definite sense of passion for the work and it is not uncommon to see men in their early 80's out preparing the ponds, checking on the progress of the waters and harvesting the fruit of their labors.

The process of making salt is an art and a science. The usage of the waters must be planned in advance so that new waters are ready for the crystallizing ponds when the old water is spent. Advancing the water through the successive ponds requires measuring the salinity of the water. The degree of salinity of the brine will determine when the various elements in the brine will start to precipitate. This is important information when one wants to maximize the amounts of important elements such as calcium, magnesium and potassium in the final product.

We have prepared a simple tour to take you through the process of how our traditional sea salt is made.

Click here to start the tour.