RUS
A QUICK GUIDE TO PINK HIMALAYAN SALT

The origins of pink salt

Pink Himalayan crystalline salt was formed more than 250 million years ago, during the Permian cataclysm, which led to the boiling of the ancient ocean.

Later on, the earth's crust was subjected to geological influences several times, which resulted in the formation of continents . The ‘meeting’ of the Indian and Eurasian continents led to the emergence of the world's highest Himalayan mountains, where valuable salt deposits, previously located on the ocean floor, gradually began to accumulate. As a result of volcanic processes, the salt melted and was mixed with magma, which gave it its pink color and its peculiar characteristics. 

Pink salt in the past and in the modern world
Natural Setra® pink salt

People have used pink salt already in ancient times. Tibetan healers and doctors knew about the special properties of this salt and used it whenever possible in their practice. During the time of Alexander the Great, pink salt deposits were transported along the Indian ridge. It was fabulously expensive, so this salt was mined only for consumption by royal families.

One of the most ancient salt mines – Khewra – is located in the province of Punjab (Pakistan). It consists of 40 km of tunnels and is the second largest in the world. Experts associate the history of the discovery of salt by Alexander the Great precisely with this mine – it was exactly the place, where his horses famously licked the salty stones.

The modern history of pink salt mining in Khewra began at the end of the 19th century. British mining engineer Dr. Warth designed and built the first tunnel under the Himalayan ridge to reach the salt deposits.

The Khewra Mine is still the largest source of salt in Pakistan. Salt is mined at 18 different working levels. There is widespread belief that the deeper the salt is, the cleaner it is and the more mineral it has.

The real Setra pink Himalayan salt is mined exclusively by hand in the Punjab province (Pakistan), following the ancient traditions of ancestors. It is free from impurities.

Pink salt contains not only sodium chloride (the salt itself), but also numerous beneficial minerals, primarily iron (which is largely responsible for the pink color), one of the main components of hemoglobin, which is vital for the human body as is commonly known.

Himalayan salt tastes different from other types of salt – it is less salty, for example, than sea salt, due to the high concentration of magnesium minerals.

Pink salt is widely used in haute cuisine and is a perfect choice for finishing dishes.