Salt is the one commodity in our kitchen that we’ve used since the dawn of time. We don’t think much about the salt we use in the kitchen. When we ran out of salt, most of us would go to the nearest store and buy the regular table salt.
But there are so many different types of salt in the market. If you want to get more out of your kitchen salt, or if you want to impress your guests the next time you cook a fantastic meal, you can try the other different types of salt in the market.
- Sea Salt
First, it is essential to note that all the salts in the market contain one main compound, sodium chloride. This mineral is vital for our bodies as it helps regulate fluid balance and blood pressure.
Although 90% of the salt is sodium chloride, the elements that make up the other 10% differentiate the salt types. Sea salt, for instance, is better than table salt because it contains potassium, calcium and iron. This salt is far better than table salt because when it comes to table salt, most of the nutrients have been removed.
Sea salt also has larger particles than table salt. This means that you will have to use more of it when cooking than table salt.
Pro tip: You can use sea salt on finished dishes like steak, steamed vegetables or salads. It gives the food a rich texture and flavor.
- Himalayan Salt
The Himalayan salt is in a class of its own due to its red or pink color. This salt has this distinctive color due to the iron oxide in it. This salt is mined from the Himalayas in Pakistan. You can find it in major supermarkets in Kenya.
The Himalayan salt has many dietary and non-dietary benefits. When it comes to cooking, this salt is believed to contain up to 84 different minerals. The natural harvesting process of the Himalayan salt enables it to retain most of the minerals and trace elements that are not found in regular table salt.
You can use this salt instead of regular table salt to cook your favorite meals.
- Kosher salt
Kosher salt is a coarse type of salt that’s popularly used for seasoning meat and vegetables. This salt is from the Jews. Jewish tradition holds that it is forbidden to eat meat containing its blood. So the Jews had to find a way of drying the meat of its blood, and they devised a process called koshering. They would kosher the meat using a coarse-grained kind called kosher salt.
Kosher salt lacks iodine, meaning that it’s a non-iodized salt. This salt tastes excellent because it’s pure and light-textured. When you apply a pinch of kosher to your meat before cooking, you’ll end up with great-tasting meat (I kid you not).
Now a bit of an alert here. Kosher salt is costly. A small pack can cost around ksh.6k to 8k, whereas the large pack goes for ksh.16k.
- Black salt
Black salt has its roots in Indian culture. It is also known as kala namak or Himalayan black salt, and it comes from the salt mines in the Himalayas, Pakistan, Nepal, Pakistan, and India. This salt was initially used in Ayurvedic medicine because of its therapeutic benefits. However, it has become a popular additive in Indian dishes.
Black salt has a unique smell and taste because it contains sulfur compounds. It also contains iron, calcium, and magnesium, which are essential for our bodies. This salt has several benefits that include:
- Decreasing diabetes complications.
- Reducing heartburn.
- Lowers cholesterol which is great for your heart’s health.
- Helps regulate blood pressure.
- Reduces bloating
- Eases muscle spasms.
It is important to note that just like regular salt, Black salt and all the other types of salt mentioned also have their risks. Too much use of these salts can lead to kidney stones, hypertension, and other complications.
It is recommended that we take 500ml of salt daily. So kindly use them sparingly, and you’ll still get the benefits.
It is equally important to note that Black salt is unsuitable for children as it has too much fluoride.
You can find Black salt in the market for about 200 shillings for the 200 gms pack.
Below is one popular brand that you can find in the market.
5. Flavored salt
One of my favorite flavored salts in the market is the Ninja Herbal salt. This brand is iodized sea salt mixed with nine different herbs. Some of the herbs are organic basil, organic parsley, organic garlic, organic cilantro, organic chives, and others. You can buy this brand online and have it delivered to your location. It goes for about ksh. 450 to 600.
Flavored salt is basically salt that has been mixed with herbs. This type of salt is great for stews and pastry dishes. You can also use it on fish and meat dishes.
6. Nzoia River Reed Salt
The Nzoia river reed salt is another type of salt that comes with a high price tag. If you manage to buy this salt, you are probably a politician or an offspring of a politician. The Nzoia Reed salt costs around ksh.11k per kg. Back in 2014, the Nzoia reed salt was celebrated as one of the most indigenous salts in the world. This salt is highly nutritious and you don’t need to use much when cooking.
7.Celtic sea salt
The Celtic sea salt is also called “Sel Gris” (grey salt). This salt is mined off the coast of France. It contains a natural balance of sodium chloride and other minerals, making it a favorite for chefs in luxury resorts. This salt is mainly used for pickling and seasoning meats.
Pickling is the process of using salty water to preserve food. This process is quite popular in Western cultures, and you can use it to preserve cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, mushrooms, onions and other stuff. If you are reading this from Kenya, like most of us, I have never pickled. This method of cooking is foreign. However, if you want to try something new in the kitchen and involve the kids in the process, you can try it.
When you pickle vegetables like tomatoes using a unique type of salt like Celtic sea salt, you’ll end up with an excellent flavored vegetable that will add a unique and rich taste to your food. You can preserve vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers using pickling for up to two months.
The Celtic salt contains 82 well-balanced minerals. It helps lower blood pressure, boosts digestion and can help with arthritis.
You can find Celtic sea salt in the Kenyan market for about ksh.5k to 8k.
In conclusion
Most people are only familiar with the local table salt from brands like Kensalt. Undoubtedly, iodized table salt is fantastic. But if you want to explore a different kind of salt, you can try any of these brands.
Now too much salt is bad for you. So use these salts sparingly.
There are other kinds of salts that are not mentioned here (about six more).
If you know one I haven’t mentioned, kindly list it in the comments section.
Happy salting!
Okay 😊
That’s true too much salt can lead to complications
Am used to kensalt but am gonna try Celtic sea salt
Many of us believes kensalt is the best, since my child hood kensalt was the only salt l use to see in our house🙈
Yeah. Kensalt is a household name. But don’t shy away from trying the other brands, e.g the Himalaya salt
In my neighborhood kensalt is the cheapest and only available
Yes Pauline. Most people only know of Kensalt. But some of these types of salt are affordable and they will add flavor to your food.
The only salt that i have ever tast is KENSALT,KAYSALT AND IODIZED SALT.
All this other types are new to me
I wanna try Himalayan salt since am used to kaysalt
Give it a try Lyda. It will add a unique flavor to your food.
Exploring is good, you learn everyday
Wow,I never knew all these till now,… thanks.
you’re welcome Jared
I have learned so much