The Ultimate Guide To Himalayan Sea Salt

Himalayan salt is so much more than a fancy name for regular table salt. It can be used in a myriad of ways, such as cooking and cleaning — and it even has a miraculous number of health benefits. 

Typically, a light to medium pink color, and even occasionally black, the appearance of Himalayan salt isn't the only difference between it and white salt; however, they are often used interchangeably, especially in the kitchen.

Himalayan salt has a somewhat literal name as it is formed and mined in the regions surrounding the Himalayas, a 1,500-mile-long mountain range found in Asia, which crosses several countries, explains PBS. The salt that is mined today for tables and pantries across the world formed millions of years ago when an ancient sea dried up. The salt that was left behind crystalized and was then buried by rock and stone. As earthquakes and geological shifts occurred, mountains formed over the salt deposits and now must be mined by hand in order to harvest the pink gold (via SaltWorks). The mines, which are covered in glass-like pinkish hunks of salt, are actually a tourist attraction and bring thousands of visitors each year.

Catching a glimpse of the salt can be quite an experience, especially considering how much salt is there. In fact, it's unknown how much salt actually exists in the region, but researchers and miners do not anticipate running out anytime soon.

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