You have most likely heard of sea salt, but have you heard of flower of salt (also known as Fleur De Sel)? And do you know the difference? 

1. The Way it is Harvested.

Regular sea salt is harvested through the collection of sea water into marsh basins or salt pans. Once the water evaporates,it is sifted, processed, and packaged. 

In contrast, flower of salt forms as a thin crust on the sea surface and is manually hand harvested from the top layer of water (Fleur means "surface"). Fleur de sel it is not processed at all. 

2. Health Benefits

Flower of salt is completely unrefined, so has a much higher mineral content than regular salt. It contains up to 84 natural nurtrients and minerals including zinc, magnesium, iodine, calcium, potassium, and iron.  

3. Uses

Fleur de sel is not used in cooking like regular salt. Instead it is used as a finishing salt to enhance the flavour of food. Popular with chefs and foodies, it is added to all kinds of savory and sweet foods just before serving. 

4. Location

Fleur de sel is widely known as coming from the coast off Brittany in France. However, fleur de sel (aka flower of salt) is also available from other regions in Europe including Greece, Spain, Croatia, and Portugal. Across the pond, it can be harvested off Vancouver Island in Canada, Macau in Brazil, and in some coastal regions of Mexico Cuyutlan on the Pacific Coast, and Yucatan on the Atlantic side). At kostas foods, all our flower of salt is hand harvested on the Greek Island of Crete.