Fleur Desel: The Flower of Salt Traditionally Delivered
Fleur De Lis is a symbol of royalty that comes from the region of Champagne, France. It has been a symbol for centuries as a symbol of love, romance, faith, friendship, and courage. The flower is created in the shape of a beautiful white pearl and can only be found in the Champagne region of France. Because of this fact, the flower of salt is associated with the symbolization of purity. Because it only forms naturally in certain very rare weather conditions and because it has to be hand-skimmed by hand using specialized sieves, fleur de sel can be, by any estimate, a very expensive item, costing several hundred dollars per pound.
There are many factors that influence fleur de sel’s moisture content, including the altitude and location of its altitude, whether it is harvested by hand or by machine, and whether or not it is mined from the sea (sea salt) or from inland lakes. These factors all affect the moisture content of the flower of salt. If it is harvested from sea salt, for example, it will have a higher moisture content than harvested from inland lakes. And yet, it still has the salty taste of seawater! All factors contribute to determining the price of fleur de sel.
Many beauty products contain Sea Salt. Their packaging is labeled as “sea salt” or “mountain de plata.” Some companies even advertise that their products are “harvested right here in the Champagne region.” The term “harvesting right here” is highly misleading, as there is no regulatory authority on the French soil. Therefore, these companies are breaking the law.
The best fleur de sel values are harvested from inland lakes that are part of the protected biodiversity system of the Loire Valley. This allows the fleur de sel harvesting to be strictly according to ecological guidelines set by local fisheries. The value is determined by two measurements: the moisture content and the density. A high moisture content indicates a rich marine life. A density measurement provides an idea of the amount of surface area covered by the salt crystal.
As a market, fleur de sel can fetch prices in excess of $300 per ton. It is relatively easy to obtain, however, it is far more difficult to keep track of the harvest. In addition, to the environmental concerns related to its harvesting, the transportation costs add up. It is also far less convenient to ship sea salt than to ship table salt. That makes it the more expensive fleur de sel relative to table salt.
As fleur de salmets are harvested mostly from inland lakes, the harvesting is fairly straightforward. Unlike other commodities like sugar, petroleum, or coal, the product is easy to store. It can be kept in a cool place and away from direct sunlight. It can even be frozen for longer storage periods.