Is Celtic Salt the Same as Real Salt? A Detailed Comparison

January 10, 2026 •

4 min read

According to manufacturers and culinary experts, Celtic salt is not the same as Real Salt. While both are popular unrefined salts, they differ significantly in their source, harvesting methods, and flavor profile, influencing how you might use them in the kitchen.

Quick Summary

Celtic salt and Real Salt are distinct unrefined salts, differing in their origin, harvesting, and mineral composition. Celtic salt is a moist sea salt harvested from modern French coastlines, while Real Salt is a drier, ancient sea salt mined from a protected deposit in Utah.

Key Points

Origin Differences: Celtic salt is harvested from modern ocean water in France, while Real Salt is mined from an ancient sea bed in Utah.
Harvesting Method: Celtic salt is hand-harvested using solar evaporation in clay-lined beds, giving it a high moisture content.
Purity and Contaminants: Real Salt comes from a protected ancient deposit, meaning it avoids modern ocean pollutants like microplastics.
Appearance and Texture: Celtic salt is moist and gray, while Real Salt is drier and has a pinkish hue due to its mineral content.
Culinary Applications: Celtic salt works well as a finishing salt, whereas Real Salt is versatile for both cooking and finishing dishes.
Nutritional Value: The trace mineral content in both salts is too small to provide significant health benefits over other types of salt.

A Tale of Two Unrefined Salts

Many consumers are drawn to unrefined salts like Celtic salt and Redmond's Real Salt for their mineral content and complex flavors, believing them to be superior to standard table salt. However, it is a common misconception that these two specialty salts are interchangeable. Their fundamental differences begin with their geographical origin and extend to their mineral composition, texture, and taste. Understanding these distinctions can inform your purchasing decisions and improve your cooking results.

Celtic Salt: The Moist Gray Salt

Celtic salt, known as sel gris (gray salt) for its hue, is a moist, unprocessed sea salt harvested from the coastal regions of France, particularly the Celtic Sea. The harvesting process is a key differentiator. It involves channeling ocean water into clay-lined salt pans, where the sun and wind naturally evaporate the water, leaving behind the salt crystals. The characteristic gray color comes from the clay of the salt beds and the trace minerals absorbed from the ocean water. Its moistness is also a direct result of being less processed, retaining some of the natural seawater brine.

Real Salt: The Ancient Mineral Treasure

Real Salt is a brand name for an unrefined rock salt mined from an ancient sea bed deep below Redmond, Utah. Because the deposit is from a prehistoric sea, it is protected from modern-day environmental pollutants that can affect salts harvested from current ocean waters. The salt is mined from underground and contains a full spectrum of natural minerals, which give it a unique pinkish color and a slightly sweeter flavor profile compared to other salts. Its harvesting and production are managed entirely within the United States, giving the company full control over its quality and purity.

Key Differences at a Glance


Feature	Celtic Salt	Redmond Real Salt
Source	Modern ocean water, specifically the Celtic Sea region off the coast of France.	Mined from an ancient, underground sea bed deposit in Redmond, Utah.
Harvesting	Hand-harvested in clay-lined salt pans via solar evaporation.	Mined from deep underground, processed in a single, controlled facility.
Pollution Risk	Exposed to modern-day ocean pollutants, including plastics and heavy metals.	Protected from modern contaminants due to its ancient, underground origin.
Color	Grayish with hints of purple, derived from clay and trace minerals.	Pink or red, from its unique mineral composition, especially iron.
Texture & Moisture	Coarse, irregularly shaped grains with a naturally high moisture content.	Dry and crystalline, available in various grinds from fine to coarse.
Flavor Profile	Briny, with a distinct mineral-rich and earthy taste.	Mild and subtly sweet, with a delicate mineral flavor.
Primary Use	Often used as a finishing salt for its flavor and crunchy texture.	A versatile salt suitable for both cooking and finishing.

Culinary and Health Considerations

The choice between Celtic salt and Real Salt often comes down to preference for flavor and texture, rather than a significant nutritional advantage. While both contain trace minerals, the quantities are too small to offer substantial nutritional benefits beyond the main sodium content. Both are unrefined and free of additives and anti-caking agents found in some table salts.

Flavor and Cooking: The briny, earthy flavor of Celtic salt shines when used as a finishing salt on grilled meats, vegetables, or fresh salads. Its moisture and large grain size, however, mean it does not dissolve as easily as Real Salt, making it less ideal for baking. Real Salt's sweeter and more balanced taste makes it a versatile all-purpose salt for everyday cooking, seasoning, and baking.
Moisture Content: Celtic salt's high moisture level gives it a clumpy texture that some prefer, but this is a characteristic, not a sign of defect. Real Salt is dry, making it easier to measure and sprinkle evenly. For this reason, some salt shakers are designed specifically for the drier, finer-grain varieties.
Environmental Purity: A significant argument for Real Salt is its origin from an ancient sea bed, isolating it from contemporary ocean contaminants like microplastics and other pollutants. This is a consideration for consumers prioritizing purity, though environmental reports on Celtic salt often vary by source and harvesting location.

How to Choose the Right Salt

Deciding which salt is right for you depends on what you value most. If you want a salt with a pure taste and a guarantee of being free from modern ocean contamination, Redmond's Real Salt is a solid choice. If you prefer a traditional, artisan-style salt with a briny, earthy flavor and a moist, crunchy texture, Celtic salt is an excellent option. For general cooking, either can be used, though you may need a grinder for the coarser varieties of both.

Ultimately, neither is universally "better" or "healthier" than the other, and the trace mineral content is negligible for most dietary needs. The best approach is to experiment with both to see which best complements your cooking style and flavor preferences. You can often find taste differences by comparing them side-by-side, which can be a fun culinary experience.

Conclusion

To definitively answer the question, is Celtic salt the same as Real Salt? No, they are not. While both are prized unrefined salts, they originate from different sources—one from a modern ocean in France and the other from an ancient sea bed in Utah. This core difference dictates their unique characteristics, including moisture, color, and flavor profile. Your final choice should be based on your culinary application and personal taste, not on unsubstantiated health claims.

Resources

To explore more about unrefined salts and their origins, consider this resource: The Difference Between Redmond Real Salt, Celtic, and Himalayan Salt

Frequently Asked Questions

From a nutritional standpoint, there are no significant health differences between Celtic salt and Real Salt. While both contain trace minerals, the quantities are negligible for overall health benefits. The primary component of both is sodium chloride, and excessive consumption of any salt should be avoided.

Celtic salt gets its distinctive gray color from the clay of the salt pans where it is harvested. Its moist texture is due to its minimal processing, which allows it to retain some of the natural brine from the seawater during the solar evaporation process.

Real Salt's origin in a protected, ancient seabed in Utah means it is not exposed to modern ocean contaminants like microplastics, a potential advantage over salts harvested from current ocean water, including Celtic salt.

While you can use both for seasoning, their different textures and flavors may impact your final dish. Celtic salt's moist, coarse grains are ideal as a finishing salt, while Real Salt's drier, consistent texture makes it more versatile for a wider range of cooking and baking.

For most Celtic salt and the coarser grinds of Real Salt, a grinder is recommended, especially if you plan to use them during cooking where they need to dissolve. Finer grinds of Real Salt are also available that can be used directly from a shaker.

Despite some marketing claims, Celtic salt contains a similar amount of sodium to most unrefined salts. The idea that you use less because of the larger grain size is often offset by the fact that the volume of salt on a teaspoon is naturally lower with larger grains.

Real Salt has a slightly different flavor profile compared to Celtic salt due to its specific mineral composition, which includes trace minerals from the ancient seabed. Many describe its taste as sweeter or milder than the briny, earthy notes of Celtic salt.