Fleur Desel is often described as the fleur de sel (sea salt). It’s an excellent fine sea salt mined from the foothills of the Pellucidar Rocks in Southern France. It was created by the ancient Greeks and Egyptians in the 3rd Century BC. For many years it was considered a superior alternative to table salt.
Fleur de sels is best enjoyed in salty soup and even goes well with fish, meat and cheese. Fleur Desel doesn’t have a very high fat content, so it’s a healthy alternative for the health conscious cook. It’s an ideal fleur de sel for people watching their cholesterol levels. You will also find fleur de sel in the bread making process as crusts of fleur de sel accumulate on dough after the yeast is added. Also available in powder form as a fleur de sel dust for quick added texture, fleur de sel gives bread its distinctive character and flavor. Fleur Desel can be used sparingly in soups, stews, rice, pasta sauces and casseroles but should not be relied upon as the sole fleur de sel salt in your recipe.
Fleur Desel works best as a salty alternative to table salt as it lacks the fat and moisture content of most sea salts. It’s best used sparingly in soups, stews, meat dishes and with fish or meat products. The crunchy nature of fleur de sel lends it to use in salads, sandwiches and other foods with a somewhat crunchy texture. You won’t taste of its salty flavor at once but it gradually develops a salty taste as it settles down in your mouth.
Fleur Desel goes well with all types of cheese such as brie, Camembert, goat cheese and brie gras. Many chefs also enjoy combining fleur de sel with white or sour cream. In cooking, you’ll usually add this salty flavor to soups, stews and melt-in-your-mouth pasta sauces. The crunchiness of fleur de sel adds extra flavor to delicate foods such as pastas or delicate desserts. At the same time, it doesn’t overpower the flavors of the finished dish.
Fleur Desel is mined in salt mines from France and Switzerland. They are harvested using a process that leaves behind small crystals of salt (Fleur Desel), which are separated from the larger crystal crystals. When these smaller crystal fleur de sel crystals are collected, they are washed in cold tap water to remove minerals and excess salt. The washed fleur de sel crystals are then stored in a filtering machine, which is designed to separate the salt crystals from the larger crystals. During this filtering process, the crystals retain their moisture content. This allows you to have fleur de sel with the same moisture content as unpolluted sea water.
To get the best value for your money, look for Fleur Desel that contains minimal sulfur and magnesium. Sulfur free fleur de sel tends to have a slightly bitter taste and can irritate the gums and lips. Magnesium free fleur de sel tends to have a buttery flavor and can sometimes cause a burning sensation on the lips. Both salts can be purchased online. Some supermarkets carry both types.
It’s important to note that fleur de sel salt won’t create fleur de sel salt products without another kind of salty product. Most sea salts contain potassium and sodium ions. Potassium and sodium ions are positively charged and can attract airborne particles. If the salt isn’t ionized with other ingredients, the particles will simply float around in your sea salt solution and you’ll never salt your hair or your skin again!
So, if you haven’t tried fleur de sel salt, you may want to give it a try. You can buy it at any department store and it even has its own unique packaging. Just mix some in with your sea salt and see what happens! Your body and skin will love it and so will everyone else in the house. It’s a very inexpensive way to add a little more flavor to your sea water.
