Reviewed by the Santé tasting panel.
Artisan Salt Company Salish Smoked Salt / Washington
Fine, semi-moist flakes are burnt umber in color; very powerful smoky aromas of Lapsang Souchong are evident even through the bag. Small crystals dissolve quickly with bold flavors of smoked oak barrels and linger on the finish with hints of cigar smoke and black tea.
Use very sparingly in bold-flavored dishes.
Saltistry, 310-621-6015
Diamond Crystal Coarse Sea Salt / California
Large, irregular flakes and crystals are dry and somewhat opague in appearance; very firm and crunchy with a bright, clean burst of salinity and a savory, persistent finish with hints of green olive.
Perfect pretzel salt; seasoning for red meat.
Cargill Salt, 800-428-4244
Diamond Crystal Fine Sea Salt / California
Finely cracked crystals of varying sizes are dry and somewhat opaque; they dissolve quickly with bright, clean salty aromas and flavors.
Very versatile.
Cargill Salt, 800-428-4244
Essential Pantry Sea Salt from Trapani / Italy
Opaque white granules with a similar size and shape as kosher salt. A crunchy texture prefaces a soft, spreading salinity that melts across the palate; long but mild finish of pure ocean salt.
Versatile: good for rustic breads.
ChefShop.com, 206-286-9988
Haddouch Gourmet Fleur de Sel Marocaine / Morocco
Irregularly-shaped cryastals are light pink-beige in color with briny aromas and a little moisture; crunchy, yet quickly dissolve with a mild salinity leading to an almost creamy consistency on the palate and mellow finish.
Delicate enough for fish.
ChefShop.com, 206-286-9988
Halen Mon / Wales
Semi-moist, broken, translucent white crystals; very crisp and clean with pure, mouth-filling flavors of salt that finish long and mellow with a little bit of chalk on the finish.
Composed salad or roasted root vegetables.
Saltistry, 310-621-6015
Maine Sea Salt Company Hickory Smoked Sea Salt / Maine
Medium to dark brown chunky crystals with strong campfire aromas; some crystals are charred, adding a slight bitterness. Very bold with pleasant smoke flavors that linger for awhile on the finish.
Use very sparingly on red meat or chicken thighs.
Maine Sea Salt Company, 207-255-3310
The Meadow China Sea Parched / Korea
Geometric crystals are an opaque gray-white color; coarse and crunchy but dissolve nearly instantly with a full, bold, mouth-filling salinity and very clean finish.
Bold enough for pork or red meats.
The Meadow, 503-288-4633
The Meadow Fiore di Cervia / Italy
Tiny, sparkly crystals with a small bit of moisture; although small, the granules are crunchy with full, warm mellow salinity through to the finish.
Finishing salt for chicken or seafood.
The Meadow, 503-288-4633
The Meadow Iburi Jio Cherry Smoked Salt / Japan
Very fine, semi-moist, sandy beige flakes that are lightly scented of wood smoke; full, rich, and expansive on the palate with a delicate finish of smoked fruit wood.
Chicken or pork.
The Meadow, 503-288-4633
O&CO. Fleur de Sel / Portugal
Opaque, soft white crystals that are slightly moist, light and flaky; granules are delicate with soft, briny aromas and dissolve quickly with the clean, fresh taste of the sea.
Very versatile as a finishing salt.
O&CO., 877-828-6620
Quai Sud "Red Alaea" Hawaiian Red Salt / France
Brick-red granules with a dusty quality; semi-moist with a focused, sharp saltiness that fills the mouth and finishes with a chalky texture.
Lamb, tuna, or swordfish.
The French Farm, 713-660-0577
Quai Sud Blue Sapphire Salt from Persia / France
Pale white-gray translucent granules peppered with cornflower blue granules; crunchy in texture with full, round flavors and moderate saltiness. Low salty notes linger on the long finish.
Chicken or light-colored fish to show off the color.
The French Farm, 713-660-0577
Quai Sud Sel Marin de Guérande / France
A ground sea salt, beige-white in color with a moist, sandy texture; bright, lively brininess dissolves quickly and leaves a tart saltiness on the midpalate that lasts through the long finish.
Very versatile: use in spice rubs or as table salt.
The French Farm, 713-660-0577
Quoddy Mist Bold Hickory Smoked / Maine
Coarse, irregularly-shaped beige crystals with subtle smoky aromas; strongly salty with present but not overwhelming wood smoke flavors. Attractive in color and size.
Chicken, tuna, or swordfish.
L&C Enterprises, 207-733-5556
Quoddy Mist Plain Fine Sea Salt / Maine
Medium-sized fine granules are an opaque white-gray in color; delicate, crisp flakes dissolve quickly with a warm, gentle salinity, deep, rich flavors, and a slightly sweet finish.
Very versatile.
L&C Enterprises, 207-733-5556
Quoddy Mist Plain Hand Harvested Coarse Sea Salt / Maine
Beautiful square pyramids with the look of glass; assertive, almost briny salinity hits high on the palate and lingers for a long time.
Use for presentation.
L&C Enterprises, 207-733-5556
Ritrovo Riserva Camillone Cervia / Sicily
Large, chunky granules are white-gray in color with a rocklike texture and slight moistness. Aggressively and strongly salty through to the lingering finish.
Red meat.
Saltistry, 310-621-6015
Salt Traders Australian Murray River Salt Flakes / Australia
Semi-moist peach-colored square crystals are light and very crispy. They dissolve quickly with mild salinity and a long, rich, creamy finish.
Sprinkled on fresh-churned butter or used to rim cocktail glasses.
Salt Traders, 800-641-SALT
Salt Traders Hawaiian Bamboo Sea Salt / Hawaii
Light jade green granules with a chewy texture; flavors are slightly bitter notes of vegetal green tea with a long, salty finish that lasts and lasts.
Yakitori or ceviche.
Salt Traders, 800-641-SALT
Salt Traders Hawaiian True-Kona Deep Water Sea Salt / Hawaii
Sparkly, semi-opaque white flakes are very crisp in texture with a high, bright saltiness that mellows out quickly and finishes mild and creamy.
Roast chicken.
Salt Traders, 800-641-SALT
Salt Traders Peruvian Pink Salt / Peru
Pale beige-pink chunks are slightly gummy in texture with a bright, assertive saltiness and slightly bitter notes on the back of the throat; full flavored yet somewhat mellow.
Fresh tomatoes or crudités.
Salt Traders, 800-641-SALT
Saltworks, Artisan Salt Company Aguni / Japan
Very fine, moist, pure white crystals that dissolve quickly on the palate with a bright kick of salinity initially; mellows and turns almost buttery with a delicate finish.
Seafood, especially raw preparations.
SaltWorks Inc., 800-353-7258
Saltworks, Artisan Salt Company Alaea / United States
Brown-red granules are colored by red clay; crunchy, focused, and boldly salty, with hints of earth and a chalky texture on the finish.
Lamb, tuna, or swordfish.
SaltWorks Inc., 800-353-7258
Saltworks, Artisan Salt Company Bolivian Rose / Bolivia
Chunky peach-pink granules have a crunchy texture; very bright, lively flavors hit high on the palate and finish smooth and almost sweet.
Chocolate truffles or caramels to show off the beautiful color.
SaltWorks Inc., 800-353-7258
Saltworks, Artisan Salt Company Flower of Bali / Indonesia
Small, beige granules are crisply crunchy; lively saltiness hits high on the palate and lasts through to the finish with a toothsome, chalky texture.
Fried foods.
SaltWorks Inc., 800-353-7258
