Description

What is Kalahari salt and where does it come from?

The origin of Kalahari desert salt

On the edge of the Kalahari Desert in South Africa lies a salt lake which derives its primary salt supply from an underground salt deposit that has been there for 280 million years. As a result, sun-dried Kalahari gourmet salt is completely natural and free from chemicals.

Kalahari translates as ‘land without water’. The Makgadikgadi Salt Pan, which was located in this desert 280 million years ago, has since disappeared, leaving a salt desert in its place. This salt is pumped from great depths and then dried in the sun.

Kalahari desert salt is a fantastic product. This salt is harvested from an area that has never been inhabited or used for industrial purposes. The salt is dissolved by pure water, resulting in a brine solution that is gently dried by the desert sun. Kalahari Desert Salt is a wholesome salt that is particularly rich in potassium, magnesium and sulphur. It also contains other essential minerals and trace elements.

This pure white salt is an excellent source of nutrients and trace elements – one of Africa’s hidden treasures. Although it is well suited to any kitchen, we recommend using it most often to enhance the flavour of meat dishes.

What is the Kalahari Desert?

Imagine a place where there is nothing but nothing. Where kilometres of sand beneath your feet mock you mercilessly with the blue sky and the heat. Your only companions in this desert are the wild vultures circling lazily overhead and the voice of your heart, beating too fast to offer any comfort. Welcome to the vast white salt pans of the Kalahari, which dominate the landscape in the heart of the harsh Kalahari Desert, often referred to as ‘nowhere land’!

The salt pans have only been there for the last 10,000 years, but the desert itself has existed for more than 60 million years. Yet this strange landscape rivals the captivating essence of Africa, drawing tourists, photographers and salt enthusiasts back time and again.

Although the Kalahari is uninhabited, it bears little resemblance to the typical desert we usually imagine. The term itself is a translation of the Tswana phrase ‘Kgalagadi’, which means ‘great thirst’.

This desert region features an inland drainage system. After heavy rains, the salt pans fill with water for a short time and the surrounding areas are covered in lush grass, providing refreshing resting places for various wild animals.

How is Kalahari salt used?

Many people believe that Kalahari salt has therapeutic properties. As this salt is unprocessed – not even fortified with iodine – and comes from a place that is completely uninhabited.

Our bodies need a daily diet containing pure salt and water to build cells and maintain the balance of electrolytes both inside and outside the cells.

Kalahari salt has a strong and direct flavour. It has a long, satisfying flavour on the palate and is extremely pleasant.

When you crush this salt, you can taste hints of iodine, as if you’d just been swimming in the ocean. It leaves a pleasant and lingering flavour in the mouth, whilst being exceptionally potent yet never harsh. Ideal for delicate seafood, white meat and vegetables.