How is the most expensive salt in the world produced?

If you think Himalayan pink salt is the most expensive salt, you probably haven’t heard of Korean bamboo salt (jugyeom) which is known to be the most expensive salt in the world after going through 9 times of heating with a temperature above 800 poison.

It is made by filling bamboo poles with sea salt taken from the west coast of Korea and shaking it nine times in a traditional kiln. It was a complicated process that took a whole month to complete.

Every step is done by hand, so it’s no wonder that Korean bamboo salt can sell for over $100/bottle.

Bamboo salt has been a part of Korean culture for hundreds of years, but nine-times-baked bamboo salt has only been around since the 20th century. Before that, salt was only baked for two or three times, but then it was discovered. That repeated vibration helps the bamboo essence soak into the salt more and also filter out more impurities, forming one of the purest salts on the planet.

Making bamboo salt starts with cutting 3-year-old bamboo stalks into cylinders, leaving one end open and filling them with sea salt. The other end is then sealed with a special ceramic clay. This bamboo tube is then put into a kiln over a pine wood flame, at a temperature close to the melting point of salt (800 degrees Celsius).

As the bamboo heats up, the oil flows from the wood and is absorbed into the salt, which is said to give it a rich aroma as well as health-promoting properties.

After 14-15 hours, the bamboo poles are turned to ash, leaving only lumps of salt, which are then crushed and packed in the bamboo poles again. In total, this process was repeated eight times.

The ninth firing process is a bit different, as the salt is now heated to about 1,000 degrees Celsius, causing the salt and bamboo to completely melt. The mixture is then poured into molds and left to solidify for several days. The rock-like salt is then broken down by hand, packaged and sold.

This final stage of the process is the hardest, as one mistake can lead to wasted 30-50 days of hard work.

Bamboo salt is said to be the purest bamboo baking salt in the world and also has the highest mineral content. Some praise it for its complex, egg-yolk-like flavor attributed to the bamboo oil it soaks in, and many also believe it has healing properties.

While scientific studies have yet to prove the health benefits of consuming bamboo salt, proponents of this luxury product claim it can aid digestion and improve oral health, reducing inflammation. and some even claim that it has anti-cancer effects.

Whether bamboo salt is actually better or tastes better than regular table salt is controversial but undeniably its hefty price tag. At over $100 per 240g jar, this is considered the most expensive salt in the world.

According to Tue An