Guérande salt is a whole virgin salt , classified as natural sea salt produced by the concentration of saline that occurs between the action of the sun and the wind. This salt, specifically, is found in the Guérande peninsula located in the Pays de la Loire of France, hence its name. The trace left in the region with dizzying salt furnaces indicates that salt production on the Guérande peninsula dates back to the time of the Hallstatt culture.
Today there are more than 2,000 hectares of clay land, distributed among 9 municipalities, destined for the production of salt. It is recognized that its characteristics compared to traditional salt are superior and more suitable for health . Therefore, we will dedicate this post to highlighting these qualities.
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Characteristics of Guérande salt
- Its main characteristic is that it is an unrefined salt, that is, it does not contain additives or chemicals that could be harmful to health.
- It is rich in trace elements and mineral salts . Within its mineral composition, bio-available magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron stand out.
- It is a gray salt that is marketed as coarse salt and fine salt.
- It is collected by hand by salt farmers gathered in cooperatives.
- For its commercialization it is classified as ''nature et progress'', that is, it is collected under natural means with organic procedures.
- In this region, fleur de sel is also collected, a type of very fine and very white salt that is obtained on the surface of saline waters.
Difference between Guérande integral salt and traditional salt
Precisely its very particular characteristics make it different from traditional salt in 2 notable aspects:
- Regarding its composition, Guérande salt has less sodium content than traditional salt . In addition, it is rich in trace elements which are lost in traditional salts that are refined. On the other hand, the presence of chemical additives in Guélandes salt is ruled out, a situation that is not possible in traditional salt.
- Regarding its production, Guérande salt is salt collected in an artisanal way , by a group of people who meet in cooperatives. While traditional salt is collected through large companies. Due to the artisanal way of collecting Guérande salt, there is a lower production compared to the production of traditional salt collected by industrial means. This can raise its price.
Now, you know the characteristics why Gueránde salt is preferred in cooking. We advise you to use Guérande salt to salt foods, just as you use traditional salt.
