Real Salt™
Real Salt is a brand of unrefined salt from Redmond in Utah. The salt is mined near the town of Redmond (Utah, USA) from an underground deposit, preserved from the dried-up inland Sundance Sea. Mining in the area began in 1958, when brothers Milo and Lamar Bosshardt left farming after a long period of drought and began using the salt deposit on their land. For the European market, we handle the import of this salt as the exclusive importer.
Compared with standard white table salt from the supermarket, it differs in the degree of processing. Table salt is often refined to almost pure sodium chloride (NaCl), which usually removes most naturally occurring trace components during processing. It often contains anti-caking agents so it stays free-flowing, and some products also have iodine added.
Real Salt is salt without anti-caking agents and without added iodine and, alongside the salt itself, it retains the main trace minerals commonly found in natural salts, especially calcium, magnesium and potassium (in smaller amounts, for example iron). For the customer, that means a simpler ingredient list without processing additives, and a taste that is not as “flatly” salty as highly refined salt.
Within the Real Salt range, you can choose by lines and grain size: Fine (all-purpose), Powder (the finest, for quick dissolving), Coarse (coarse for the grinder), Kosher (larger crystals for precise seasoning) and Smoked (a smoked variant with a smoky note). The colour can range from pale to pink-beige.
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Real Salt: origin, mining, composition and how it differs from standard salt
Real Salt is an unrefined salt from an underground deposit near the town of Redmond in Utah (USA). The deposit formed from an ancient inland sea and now sits as a compact salt mass underground. The salt is mined from this mass, mechanically crushed, graded by grain size and packed.
The deposit’s origin and geology
In prehistoric times, an inland sea covered central Utah. As it receded, a layer of salt was left behind and gradually covered by rock. In the mine near Redmond, salt makes up the walls, ceiling and floor – it is not a thin seam within other rock, but a continuous salt deposit.
How the brand began
Around 1958, a long drought hit the Redmond area and local farms suffered crop failure. Brothers Milo and Lamar Bosshardt began using the salt deposit beneath their land instead of farming and started mining. This family operation gradually became the company behind Real Salt kitchen salt.
How mining and processing work
The processing of Real Salt can be described in three steps:
- Mining – in the mine, salt is taken directly from the walls using a stainless-steel hydraulic rotary tool, without explosives.
- Crushing and grading – mined blocks of salt are crushed into smaller crystals, then sieved into individual grain sizes (Powder, Fine, Kosher, Coarse).
- Packing – the graded salt is packed in a clean area intended for food processing.
Across all grain sizes, it is the same salt from the same deposit; only the crystal size differs.
What it means that Real Salt is “unrefined”
Unrefined here means it is not chemically purified to near-pure NaCl. Real Salt only goes through physical processing (mining, crushing, sieving, packing). In mineral analysis, the main component is sodium chloride (NaCl), with trace minerals also documented (such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and other elements in trace amounts).
Trace minerals affect:
- colour – the crystals have natural pink and light brown tones,
- taste – the salt does not come across as quite as “sharp” as pure white refined salt,
- overall impression – both appearance and taste differ from standard white table salt.
The minerals are present in trace amounts; the salt makes sense mainly as seasoning, not as a primary source of nutrients.
The difference between Real Salt and standard table salt
- Origin – Real Salt comes from one specific underground deposit in Utah. Standard table salt in shops can come from different sources (salt mines, vacuum salt from brine, salt pans).
- Degree of processing – Real Salt is unrefined (mechanical processing without chemical purification). Table salt is often purified to a very high proportion of NaCl.
- Additives – with Real Salt, it is pure salt without anti-caking agents and without added iodine (iodine is present only in its natural trace form). With table salts, iodisation and agents to keep the salt free-flowing are common; it depends on the specific product and its label.
- Behaviour in humidity – because Real Salt contains no anti-caking agents, it may naturally clump in humid conditions. You can break up lumps with a spoon or in a mortar; storing it dry helps, and you can add a few grains of uncooked rice to the salt shaker to absorb moisture.
What the minerals in Real Salt mean for the customer
Trace minerals in the salt have a few practical effects:
- Taste – the taste is not just “purely salty” as with refined salt; minerals add a gentler, more layered flavour.
- Colour – pink and light brown specks in the crystals are a direct expression of the mineral profile.
- Documented composition – mineral analysis and other documents are available for Real Salt; the composition can be traced in specific supporting materials.
From a nutrition perspective, salt remains primarily a source of sodium; trace minerals are mainly relevant for taste and appearance, and for traceability of the composition.
Real Salt grain sizes and how to choose
Grain size does not affect the composition, but it does affect how you work with salt in the kitchen. What matters most is how you want to use it.
| Grain size | Typical use | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Powder | finishing seasoning, popcorn, sprinkling over ready-to-serve dishes | the finest salt; flavour without a noticeable crunch |
| Fine | everyday cooking and baking, table salt shaker | an all-purpose choice for most uses |
| Kosher | meat and vegetables, seasoning between your fingers | larger crystals, easy to dose by hand |
| Coarse | grinder, barbecue, finishing sprinkle with more texture | the largest crystals, suited to grinding or a more textured finish |
When switching from a coarser to a finer grain size, season gradually and taste as you go; fine salt tastes more intense at the same volume.
Certifications and documents
The following types of documents are available for Real Salt:
- Mineral analysis – a breakdown of the composition, including trace elements.
- OMRI Listed – confirmation that the product can be used in certified organic production or processing under the US rules of the USDA National Organic Program.
- Kosher certification – confirmation of suitability under kosher standards (OU).
- Safety data sheet – standard documentation for handling salt.
Quick summary for choosing
- It has a documented mineral profile, certifications and safety documentation.
- It is without anti-caking agents and without added iodine (iodine only in its natural trace form).
- You can choose the grain size based on how you cook (Fine as an all-purpose option, Coarse for the grinder, Kosher for meat and vegetables, Powder for finishing seasoning).
FAQ
Where does Real Salt come from?
Real Salt comes from an underground salt deposit near the town of Redmond in Utah (USA). The deposit is a remnant of an ancient inland sea that once covered part of what is now central Utah.
How did the Real Salt brand begin?
The story goes back to the Bosshardt family in Redmond. During drought at the end of the 1950s, they moved from farming to mining salt from the underground deposit beneath their land. That activity became the business that today also produces Real Salt kitchen salt.
Is Real Salt “pink salt from the USA”?
Real Salt crystals naturally have pink and light brown tones due to the minerals they contain. It is salt mined in the USA from an underground deposit, with colour and taste that differ from standard refined salts.
Does Real Salt contain anti-caking agents or added iodine?
Real Salt is produced as pure salt without anti-caking agents and without added iodine. Iodine is present only in its natural trace form. With standard table salts in shops, iodine may be added deliberately and the composition varies by product.
Why does Real Salt sometimes clump?
Salt is hygroscopic and absorbs moisture from the air. Because Real Salt contains no anti-caking agents, it can form lumps in humid conditions. Storing it dry helps; lumps are easy to break up, and you can add a few grains of uncooked rice to the salt shaker to hold some of the moisture.
What does it mean that Real Salt has trace minerals?
Alongside NaCl, Real Salt also contains other elements in small, trace amounts, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron. These elements affect the salt’s colour and taste. In terms of nutrient intake, their amounts are supplementary; salt is primarily a source of sodium.
What is the difference between Real Salt and Himalayan salt?
Both are unrefined salts from underground deposits with trace minerals. Real Salt comes from Utah in the USA, while Himalayan salt is mined in Pakistan. They differ by location, colour and taste; each type has its own documented mineral analysis.
Which grain size should I choose if I want one salt for the household?
For the most common uses, Fine works well (cooking, baking, seasoning at the table). Coarse suits a grinder, Kosher is for seasoning meat and vegetables by hand, and Powder is for finishing seasoning when you do not want a pronounced crystal texture.