Mediterranean "Fleur de Sel"

Our Spanish Mediterranean "Fleur de sel" has a high moisture content and retains a certain briny flavor from the sea. It's a delicate, almost flaky salt. Additionally, this moisture content encourages the salt crystals to stick together on your tongue, causing the flavor to be perceived more intensely. That's another reason a little bit goes a long way. But it's not necessarily more salty than any other sea salt.

It has a coarse yet light texture as it forms in flakes rather than grains like all other salts.

What is "Fleur de sel"?

• Also called "Flower of salt" or "flor de sal" it is produced by a complicated process. It involves collecting the thin layer of salt that rises to the surface of shallow pools of seawater along the coast of the Mediterranean sea and Atlantic ocean.
• Because it forms naturally under certain very limited weather conditions, and because it must be skimmed off by hand using special sieves, fleur de sel is, by any estimation, an extremely expensive product.
• This makes sense if you think about how fleur de sel differs from ordinary sea salt. Ordinary sea salt is made by evaporating seawater and then collecting the remaining salt into mounds.
• This high cost means that it shouldn't be used as an ordinary seasoning. Instead, think of it as almost a garnish or condiment. A few crystals of fleur de sel sprinkled over a dish add a burst of flavor, visual appeal, and even texture. A little bit truly goes a long way.
• Once you've procured a stash of fleur de sel, you will want to use it carefully. For one thing, it is very delicate and will quickly dissolve, so it really should be added to a dish immediately before serving. You'll still taste it after it dissolves, but you won't see it or feel its distinctive texture.