The journey of salt
by Laura Calvo
In the late afternoon, when the sun is still shining strongly enough on the paradisiacal nature reserve, the salt flowers come to the surface in the saltworks. Delicate and beautiful like many other wonders that nature has spontaneously offered us for thousands of years. The tranquillity, together with the glitter reflected by the water and the white salt mountains, creates a magical atmosphere. There are dozens of birds, and the glass herb forms a kind of green carpet. It smells of the sea when you breathe in the peace and quiet.
The harvesting takes place in peace and quiet; the Salinero takes breaks and respects the silence on site, as the surface of the water is caressed by the gentle movements of the rake. This type of work requires patience, skill and strength. The harvest must be completed before nightfall, otherwise the salt crystals will dissolve again due to the humidity of the air. It often happens that the Salinero is overwhelmed by a tremendous feeling of gratitude for being allowed to enjoy this special environment. It is thanks to the sea, the sun and the earth that the precious crystals bloom in the salt flats of Es Trenc.
The salt blossom is dried in the sun and the whole process is purely manual. No more and no less. It is 100% natural and pure. Once Flor de Sal d'Es Trenc has been extracted through this meticulous process, it contains not only the Mediterranean aroma, but also more than 80 minerals and trace elements and, unlike traditional sea salt, 16 to 20 times more magnesium and twice the amount of potassium and calcium. However, the main element of common salt, sodium chloride, is relatively low in Flor de Sal. The colour, texture and size of the salt crystals can change.
Even the Phoenicians and Romans harvested salt in Es Trenc, a 3.5 km long natural beach in the southeast of Mallorca. It is one of the most beautiful natural paradises of the Balearic Islands. The water on the beach is transparent and turquoise. White sand, water lilies, dunes and savannah trees surround us in a marshland that has become a saltworks of over 150 hectares. Two underground waterways, mud and clay, improve the quality of the terrain. Flor de Sal is the most delicious salt of all sea salts
Flor de Sal d'Es Trenc is the only salt from Es Trenc and the only one harvested in Mallorca. For ten years now, the salt flowers have been crystallising daily, weather permitting. The harvest takes place during the summer months.
Visitors to the salt works are impressed by the landscape and enjoy the view and the sight of the saltworks staff harvesting the salt flower. It is used as a triumphal ending to the preparation of a dish. It is one of the indispensable ingredients for chefs and restaurateurs all over the world.
The varieties of Flor de Sal d'Es Trenc are blends of the best ingredients combined with the natural salt flowering. Its high magnesium content makes it an excellent flavour enhancer. You can find it in the best shops in over 30 countries. Exclusively for the harvest of Flor de Sal d'Es Trenc more than 200 basins were built by hand with wood on the mudflats and clay soil.
