Maldon Crystal Salt Company Limited,[1] trading as Maldon Salt, is a salt-producing company in Maldon on the high-salinity banks of the River Blackwater in Essex, England. The river is favoured by flat tide-washed salt marshes and low rainfall.

570g plastic tub

History

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Sea salt production in the coastal town of Maldon dates back to the time of Roman Britain when clay-lined salt evaporation ponds were constructed, and according to the Domesday Book, 45 lead pans were used to manufacture salt there in 1086.[2]

The Maldon Salt Company was founded under its current name in 1882, having previously been part of a local coal firm.[3] In the 1990s and early 2000s, Maldon's salt grew in popularity after being used by prominent chefs including Ruth Rogers, Delia Smith, and Jamie Oliver.[4]

Salt

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Flakes and pyramid chunks

Maldon Sea Salt is made on a large scale by evaporating brine over an elaborate network of modern gas-fired brick flues. At one time crystal drying was by woodburning stove and later by industrial oven before the use of a oscillator was introduced. In 2017 it was said that inverted pyramid-shaped crystals prevented the salt from caking, and the resulting flakes from their breakdown were used as a finishing salt.[4]

The company claims that the salt's low magnesium content means it has less of a bitter aftertaste than other salts.[4] Salt gained from evaporating seawater has a higher magnesium ion content than some table salts.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Maldon Crystal Salt Company Limited overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". Companies House. 19 June 1926. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  2. ^ Finney, Clare (23 October 2018). "Clear as crystal: the decades-old traditions of Maldon sea salt". foodism.co.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  3. ^ "About Us". Maldon Salt. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Paumgarten, Nick (31 March 2017). "The History of Maldon Salt, the Stuff You Already Put on Everything". Bon Appétit. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Ziste der Spurenelemente und Mineralien im natürlichen Meersalz". Retrieved 10 December 2022.
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51°43′19″N 0°39′54″E / 51.722°N 0.665°E / 51.722; 0.665