Alaea salt

Alaea salt
Alaea salt is an unrefined sea salt that gets its brick red color from a Hawaiian volcanic clay called 'alaea' composed of over 80 minerals and rich in iron oxide
Type Sea salt
Place of origin United States
Region or state Hawaii
Main ingredients Salt
Ingredients generally used Red alae volcanic clay

Alaea salt, sometimes referred to as Hawaiian salt, is an unrefined sea salt that has been mixed with an iron oxide rich volcanic clay called 'alaea', which gives the seasoning its characteristic brick red color . It is part of Native Hawaiian cuisine and is used in traditional dishes such as kalua pig, poke, and pipikaula (Hawaiian jerky). It was also traditionally used to cleanse, purify and bless tools, canoes, homes and temples. Once exported to the Pacific Northwest to cure salmon, it saw a resurgence in popularity late in the 20th century in fusion style cuisine of Hawaii both on Islands and beyond.

It is claimed by one author that most alaea salt sold in the United States is produced in California, not in Hawaii.[1] True Hawaiian-made alaea salt is expensive[2] and before the rise of convenient Internet shopping was difficult to find elsewhere.

History

Alaea salt was traditionally used by Hawaiians to cleanse, purify and bless tools, canoes, homes and temples.[3] Alaea salt is also used in several native Hawaiian dishes kalua pig, poke, and pipikaula (Hawaiian jerky).[4] In the 19th century Hawaiians began producing large amounts of alaea salt using European salt making techniques and became a leading supplier to fishermen in the Pacific Northwest for curing salmon .[5][6]

Color

Alaea salt gets its characteristic brick red color from a volcanic Hawaiian clay called alae, which contains some 80 minerals is rich in iron oxide.[7]

See also

  • Food portal

References

  1. ↑ Bitterman, Mark (2010). Salted: A Manifesto on the World's Most Essential Mineral, with Recipes. Ten Speed Press. p. 129. ISBN 978-1-58008-262-4.
  2. ↑ Weinzweig, Ari (2003). Zingerman's guide to good eating: how to choose the best bread, cheeses, olive oil, pasta, chocolate, and much more. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 343. ISBN 978-0-395-92616-1.
  3. ↑ Schrambling, Regina (April 6, 2005). "Salt, that essential flavor" (fee required). Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Simply salt, in many variations". The Press Democrat. August 15, 2007. Retrieved January 13, 2010. (Subscription required (help)).
  5. ↑ Kurlansky, Mark (2002). Salt: A World History. Penguin Books. p. 405. ISBN 0-8027-1373-4.
  6. ↑ Kurlansky, Mark. pg. 405.
  7. ↑ Laudan, Rachel (1996). The food of Paradise: exploring Hawaii's culinary heritage. University of Hawaii Press. p. 235. ISBN 978-0-8248-1778-7.
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