What is special about Redmond Real Salt?

December 5, 2025 •

4 min read

Redmond Real Salt is an unrefined sea salt harvested from an ancient seabed in Redmond, Utah, that was sealed and protected from modern pollutants by a layer of volcanic ash millions of years ago. Its unique origins result in a salt rich with over 60 trace minerals, giving it a distinctive color, flavor, and mineral profile that sets it apart from common table salt.

Quick Summary

Redmond Real Salt is a naturally pink, mineral-rich salt sourced from an ancient Utah seabed, protected from modern contaminants. Unlike processed table salt, it retains over 60 trace minerals that contribute to its subtle, naturally sweet flavor. Its unrefined state and unique origins make it a preferred choice for many seeking a healthier and more flavorful alternative for cooking and seasoning.

Key Points

Unrefined and Natural: Unlike table salt, Redmond Real Salt is minimally processed, retaining all its natural trace minerals without any additives or anti-caking agents.
Protected Ancient Source: It is mined from an ancient seabed in Redmond, Utah, that was protected from modern environmental pollutants for millions of years under a layer of volcanic ash.
Rich Mineral Content: This salt contains over 60 naturally occurring trace minerals, which are believed to contribute to overall health and electrolyte balance.
Subtle and Distinctive Flavor: The complex mineral profile provides a uniquely sweet and never-bitter taste that enhances food flavors more effectively than harsh table salt.
American-Mined: As the only American pink salt, it offers a more sustainable option for North American consumers with fewer food miles compared to salts mined internationally.
Trace Mineral Transparency: The company is transparent about the presence of naturally occurring trace minerals, including heavy metals, and provides analysis to show levels are safe.

The Unrefined Difference: What Makes Real Salt Stand Out

Unlike the highly processed, bleached, and chemically stripped salt found in most grocery stores, Redmond Real Salt is harvested and packaged in its natural state, with nothing added and nothing removed. This preserves the more than 60 trace minerals that give the salt its subtle, sweet flavor and speckled pink, red, and white appearance. This commitment to natural purity is a core part of what is special about Redmond Real Salt, offering a wholesome alternative to conventional options.

Where Real Salt Comes From

The story of Real Salt begins in the Jurassic Period, when an inland sea covered what is now Central Utah. As the sea evaporated, it left behind a massive salt deposit that was eventually protected for millions of years by a layer of volcanic ash. This unique geological formation, shielded from man-made pollution, is the source of Redmond's salt. The salt is mined from these ancient underground deposits and brought to the surface.

The salt mine is located in Redmond, Utah, with the salt deposit beginning just 30 feet below the surface.
Mining is done carefully to preserve the salt's natural state.
After harvesting, the salt is simply crushed and screened into different grain sizes, but never heat-processed, bleached, or stripped.

The Flavor Profile and Culinary Uses

Many chefs and home cooks favor Real Salt for its complex, less-bitter flavor that enhances the taste of food rather than overpowering it. The specific grain size can also influence its culinary use:

Fine Salt: Best for baking, general seasoning, and table use due to its quick solubility.
Kosher Salt: The larger crystal size is ideal for seasoning meats and brining.
Coarse Salt: Great for grinders and for adding a crunchy texture as a finishing salt on dishes.
Powder Salt: The finest grain, also known as popcorn salt, is perfect for an even distribution of flavor without noticeable texture.

The Trace Mineral Advantage

While conventional table salt is almost pure sodium chloride, Real Salt's natural mineral composition is what gives it a unique character. The exact mineral content can vary slightly, but it consistently contains numerous trace minerals and elements.

Magnesium: An essential mineral involved in hundreds of biochemical reactions in the body.
Potassium: Works with sodium to maintain proper fluid balance and cellular function.
Calcium: Important for bone strength and muscle function.
Iron: Contributes to the salt's characteristic pink hue.

These naturally occurring minerals are believed to aid in hydration, electrolyte balance, and cellular function. This holistic composition is a stark contrast to refined table salts, which lack these supporting elements.

A Comparative Look: Redmond Real Salt vs. Other Salts


Feature	Redmond Real Salt	Conventional Table Salt	Himalayan Pink Salt	Celtic Sea Salt
Origin	Ancient, protected seabed in Utah, USA.	Processed from various sources, including sea or rock salt.	Ancient, protected salt deposit in Pakistan.	Hand-harvested from current ocean water in France.
Processing	Unrefined, untreated, no additives.	Refined, bleached, and contains anti-caking agents.	Typically unrefined and unprocessed.	Unrefined and minimally processed.
Mineral Content	60+ trace minerals.	Trace minerals are stripped away.	Contains a similar spectrum of minerals.	Contains minerals like calcium and magnesium, but from current ocean sources.
Purity	Protected from modern pollutants due to its ancient underground source.	Potential for microplastic and modern ocean pollutants depending on source.	Protected from modern pollutants.	Some exposure to modern ocean pollutants.
Flavor	Subtly sweet, never bitter.	Harshly salty due to lack of other minerals.	Earthier flavor profile.	Moist and flavorful.

Controversy and Consumer Transparency

It is important to note that, as a mined salt product, Redmond Real Salt naturally contains trace amounts of heavy metals like lead and arsenic, which are present in the earth. In 2024, an independent third-party test detected these trace levels. However, Redmond provides transparent access to its Certificate of Analysis and claims the levels are well within safe consumption guidelines, with experts and other analyses noting that the amounts are extremely low and often less than in many common foods. This issue highlights the ongoing greenwashing and marketing debates surrounding natural food products.

Conclusion

Redmond Real Salt's special qualities stem from its ancient origins in a protected Utah seabed, resulting in an unrefined, additive-free salt brimming with over 60 trace minerals. This unique composition not only gives it a superior, subtly sweet flavor profile but also offers potential health benefits related to hydration and electrolyte balance. While trace mineral levels naturally vary and have been part of recent discussion, the company's transparency and commitment to sustainability add to its appeal for those seeking a more wholesome, American-mined alternative to conventional salt. The ultimate distinction lies in its unprocessed nature, ensuring that what you get is as close to nature's original product as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

The speckled pink, red, and white appearance of Redmond Real Salt comes from the more than 60 naturally occurring trace minerals present in the ancient salt deposit.

Both are mineral-rich ancient salts, but Redmond Real Salt is mined in the USA (Utah), while Himalayan salt comes from Pakistan. Real Salt has a slightly sweeter flavor, while Himalayan salt is more earthy. For American consumers, Redmond Real Salt also means fewer food miles.

As a mined salt, Redmond Real Salt naturally contains trace elements, including heavy metals like lead and arsenic, found in the earth. However, the company provides a transparent Certificate of Analysis, and experts note the amounts are typically well within safety guidelines and often lower than those found in many common foods.

Yes, Redmond Real Salt can be used for seasoning, cooking, baking, and table use. It is often praised for its ability to enhance food flavors more subtly and effectively than conventional table salt.

While all salt is technically sea salt, Redmond Real Salt comes from an ancient, protected seabed sealed for millions of years. Modern sea salts are harvested from current oceans, and their purity and mineral content can vary based on their source and potential exposure to modern pollutants.

Redmond Real Salt contains naturally occurring trace amounts of iodine, but it is not fortified with iodine like many conventional table salts. For individuals needing a specific amount of iodine, this should be considered.

Redmond emphasizes sustainable practices, such as running its operations on solar power, which reduces the company's carbon footprint. Additionally, mining in the USA for American consumers reduces food miles compared to many imported salts.