Persian Blue Salt
Persian Blue Salt
Fossil rock salt from Garmsar, Semnan
A blue crystal mined from rock salt beds left behind when an ancient sea dried up. It forms differently from ordinary rock salt: over hundreds of millions of years of geological movement, the internal structure of the crystal changed, and it began to read as blue. NEXORA imports it directly from the source for restaurants, hotels and specialist retailers in Japan.
One of our own imported products. We file the import notification required under Japan's Food Sanitation Act, and provide specification sheets and certificates of analysis on request.
| Origin | Garmsar, Semnan Province |
|---|---|
| Type | Fossil rock salt (halite) |
| Source of colour | Optical, from the crystal structure |
| Primary use | Finishing salt |
Grain size, packaging, lot size and delivery terms are quoted case by case once we know the application. Tell us what you need through the contact form.
Origin
Where does Persian blue salt come from?
It is mined deep underground in the Garmsar area of Semnan Province. The region holds rock salt beds left by an ancient sea: the water evaporated, sediment covered what remained, and pressure and heat worked on the layer for a very long time.
After extraction it is sorted and washed before export. Even within one mine the blue does not come out evenly. Crystals that are deeply blue all the way through are a small fraction of what is dug out, and that is where the rarity comes from.
The colour
Why is it blue?
The blue is not added. Small structural faults in the salt's crystal lattice absorb particular wavelengths of light, and what is left of that light reads as blue. No pigment, no additive — the colour is optical.
Which is why the intensity varies crystal by crystal. In the same bag you will find grains that are almost clear next to grains carrying a deep indigo. The unevenness is the evidence that it is natural.
- No pigment or colouring agent
- Intensity varies from crystal to crystal
- The colour shifts with the light
Taste
What does it taste like?
First
A clean, sharp salinity arrives and then steps back. No hard edge to it.
Middle
A faint sweetness follows, with a clear mineral character behind it.
Finish
The depth typical of rock salt stays in the mouth for a while.
Use
How should it be used?
This is not a salt to dissolve into the cooking. The point of it is the texture of the grain and the blue you can still see on the plate.
No heat
Heat destroys the colour. Use ordinary salt for seasoning and for anything that simmers.
Last step
Add it just before serving — whole grains, or ground at the table.
Let it show
Meat, white fish, raw vegetables, chocolate: anywhere the contrast in colour does some work.
Position in Japan
How is it treated in the Japanese market?
The above describes the market in general terms and does not refer to any particular customer.
Import and supply
Can we buy it wholesale?
Yes. NEXORA is a Tokyo trading company and imports this salt itself. We handle sourcing at origin, the import procedure, the paperwork and domestic delivery as one piece of work.
- Import notification under the Food Sanitation Act, and the documents it requires
- Specification sheets, certificates of analysis and certificates of origin on request
- Samples, and terms for continuing supply
- Repacking and private label enquiries
Price depends on quantity, grain size, packaging and delivery terms. Tell us the application and we will quote with the conditions attached.
Frequently asked questions
What is Persian blue salt?
A natural rock salt containing blue crystals, mined in the Garmsar area of Semnan Province. It comes from rock salt beds left by an ancient sea, which is why it is also called fossil salt. The blue is not added: it is an optical effect of the crystal structure.
Is the blue added? Is it safe to eat?
It is not added. Small structural faults in the crystal lattice absorb certain wavelengths of light, and the salt reads as blue. It is a natural rock salt with no pigment or additive.
Where is it from?
Deep underground in the Garmsar area of Semnan Province. The rock salt beds there formed when an ancient sea evaporated.
How should it be used?
As a finishing salt, because heat destroys the colour. Add it just before serving, whole or ground at the table. It suits meat, white fish, raw vegetables and chocolate — anywhere the contrast in colour does some work.
Can we buy it wholesale, and what does it cost?
We supply the trade. Price is not published here because it depends on quantity, grain size, packaging and delivery terms. Send us the application and the volume you have in mind through the contact form and we will quote with the conditions attached.
Request a sample or a quotation
Tell us the application, the volume you expect and the grain size you want. We will come back with availability and the import steps involved.