Himalayan salt is a unique class of mineral that contains trace elements from the earth’s crust. It is used for its distinctive visual effect on objects, especially silverware and tableware. The initial discovery of the substance was made in 1919, when a German chemist, Georg Wilhelm Hell and his team made experiments to determine whether salt could be used as a new material in food preparations.
The chemist and his team made use of salt crystals that they extracted from the Himalayas. These crystals had been mined from lakes, rivers and streams in the Indian region. This discovery was welcomed by the public who wanted to know how to make different kinds of salts. Himalayan salt became a hot favorite among the people of India and also in Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Some of the characteristics of the salt have been identified to be: Mn, Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ar, Ti, Al, Ca, B and S. These minerals are present in other salt forms too but their different roles have not been identified yet.
Salt from the Himalayas has rich natural deposits that make it an excellent choice of mineral for the production of salt. The melting point of the salt is at 600 degrees C. In fact the Himalayan salt possesses a high melting point and in addition the higher melting point, makes it easier to dissolve in most types of solutions.
Himalayan salt is called ‘pure salt’, as it is white in color. Although there are many types of salt produced from this mineral, Himalayan salt is a close copy of the earth’s crust and has the same properties as the crust. These properties make it the ideal salt for many applications.
This mineral formation originates from layers and rocks that form deep within the earth’s crust. The earth is covered with many layers and rocks. When the rock underneath becomes compacted, it releases the minerals contained in the rock.
Because of the cold weather, the minerals are locked within the rock and are exposed to the air. These are the minerals that become trapped in these crystals and in the process come to be known as salts.
When the Himalayan salt is mined, it is ground down and refined so that it can be used as a salt. The purity and the composition of the salt vary according to the type of miner and the type of minerals included in the crystal. In general, the pure salt has a high refractive index value.
There are several companies producing Himalayan salt that are also renowned for the purity of their product. The ones that stand out from the rest are those that produce Himalayan salt flakes. The flakes have the highest quality and as they come in separate flakes, you get the highest quality salt at an affordable price.
The use of this salt has changed the way that we cook in the modern world. Food preparation has greatly benefited from the fact that the food is not left with any impurities in it. Many chefs are using Himalayan salt for preparing meals and desserts that are more visually appealing.
The salt is also being used for making cakes and pastries as well as in various soups and dips. For baking, Himalayan salt is used along with honey, lemon juice, sugar and water to enhance the taste of the baked goods.