Celtic sea salt, fleur de sel and Himalayan salt in bulk: a guide for food businesses
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Short answer: Celtic sea salt is a grey, moist and unrefined sea salt, also called sel gris, that is hand-harvested on the coast of Brittany in France. Fleur de sel is the delicate, crunchy salt that is hand-harvested from the top layer of salt pans and is used as a finishing salt. Himalayan salt is a pink rock salt mined from salt deposits in the Himalayan region. All three fall under HS code 250100, and we supply each of them in bulk in 10, 50 or 100 kg for restaurants, food producers, delicatessens and private label brands.
Celtic sea salt, fleur de sel and Himalayan salt compared
| Salt | Type and origin | Appearance | Typical use | Characteristics | Order quantities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celtic sea salt (sel gris) | Sea salt, Brittany, France | Grey, moist crystals | Cooking, seasoning, retail packs | Unrefined, hand-harvested, no added anti-caking agents | 10, 50 or 100 kg |
| Fleur de sel | Sea salt from the top layer of salt pans, France | Delicate, crunchy crystals | Finishing salt for dishes, delicatessen and gift packs | Hand-harvested, no additives | 10, 50 or 100 kg |
| Himalayan salt | Rock salt from the Himalayan region | Pink crystals | Cooking salt, seasoning, retail packs | Unrefined, no added anti-caking agents | 10, 50 or 100 kg |
Our sea salts collection also contains Dead Sea salt. We supply that salt only as a cosmetic raw material for bath salts, bath soaks and body scrubs; it is not sold as food.
What is Celtic sea salt?
Celtic sea salt, also known as sel gris, is a grey sea salt that is hand-harvested on the coast of Brittany in France. It is unrefined and has a full, mineral taste. Its natural moisture and grey colour set it apart from refined table salt.
Restaurants and professional kitchens use Celtic sea salt for cooking and seasoning. Food producers and delicatessens use it in their own recipes, and retail brands and webshops pack it under their own label. Because it is moist, it needs packaging that suits its moisture content. Test your packaging and filling equipment with a sample before you order larger volumes.
What is fleur de sel?
Fleur de sel is sea salt from the top layer of salt pans, harvested by hand. Its crystals are delicate and crunchy. Our fleur de sel comes from France and contains no additives.
Because of its texture, fleur de sel is used as a finishing salt: restaurants and caterers use it to finish dishes. Delicatessens and food brands sell it in their own packaging, and webshops add it to a range of speciality salts alongside Celtic sea salt and Himalayan salt.
What is Himalayan salt?
Himalayan salt is a pink rock salt. It is not harvested from the sea but mined from ancient salt deposits in the Himalayan region. Our Himalayan salt is unrefined and has no added anti-caking agents. Food producers and professional kitchens use it as cooking salt and seasoning, and retail brands and webshops pack it under their own label. If your label mentions a country of origin, ask us for the specification first, so the label matches the supply.
Quality: what makes a salt food grade?
The Codex Alimentarius standard for food grade salt (CXS 150-1985) describes food grade salt as a crystalline product consisting mainly of sodium chloride, obtained from the sea, from underground rock salt deposits or from natural brine. The standard sets the sodium chloride content at not less than 97% on a dry matter basis, not counting additives. Sea salt and rock salt are both covered by that definition.
For bulk purchasing, ask for a specification that states at least:
- the type of salt and the country of origin;
- the sodium chloride content on a dry matter basis;
- the moisture content, which matters most for sel gris;
- the grain size or crystal form;
- whether anything is added, such as anti-caking agents or iodine.
A certificate of analysis (CoA) per batch shows that the delivered salt meets that specification. We supply the specification and CoA on request.
Labelling salt under your own brand
Salt has a few useful exemptions in Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information to consumers:
- No nutrition declaration: salt and salt substitutes are listed in Annex V as foods that are exempt from the mandatory nutrition declaration.
- No best-before date: Annex X exempts cooking salt from the date of minimum durability.
- No list of ingredients: a food that consists of a single ingredient does not need a list of ingredients when the name of the food is identical to the name of the ingredient or clearly identifies it (Article 19).
The other mandatory particulars still apply, such as the name of the food, the net quantity and the name and address of the food business operator, in a language that consumers in each country understand. Descriptions such as "unrefined" or "hand-harvested" should match the specification of your supplier. Dead Sea salt for bath products is a cosmetic product under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, with its own rules for the safety assessment, notification and labelling.
Ordering sea salt in bulk or as private label
- Order quantities: 10, 50 or 100 kg for each salt.
- Smaller quantities are possible on request.
- Prices exclude shipping, and we can arrange transport.
- Orders are usually shipped within 1 to 2 weeks.
- Specification and CoA are available on request.
- For private label we supply the salt in bulk for your own packaging and labelling. As the brand owner you are responsible for your label and any claims on it, in line with Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
Read how ordering in bulk works on our wholesale page, or contact us for a quote.
FAQ
What is the difference between Celtic sea salt and fleur de sel?
Celtic sea salt (sel gris) is a grey, moist sea salt for cooking and seasoning. Fleur de sel is the fine crystal layer from the top of the salt pans and is used as a finishing salt.
Is Himalayan salt a sea salt?
No. Himalayan salt is a rock salt mined from salt deposits in the Himalayan region. Under the Codex standard, both sea salt and rock salt can be food grade salt.
Does packed salt need a best-before date?
No. Annex X of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 exempts cooking salt from the date of minimum durability. The other mandatory particulars still apply.
Do your salts contain anti-caking agents?
No. Our Celtic sea salt and Himalayan salt have no added anti-caking agents, and our fleur de sel contains no additives.
What is the minimum order for sea salt?
The standard tiers are 10, 50 and 100 kg per salt. Smaller quantities are possible on request.
Can I use Dead Sea salt in food?
No. We supply Dead Sea salt only as a cosmetic raw material for bath and body products.
Sources
- Codex Alimentarius, Standard for Food Grade Salt CXS 150-1985 (FAO/WHO)
- Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers (EUR-Lex)
Written by Florian Fermin, co-owner of GOA Supply.