Sea salt
Sea salt suppliers and sourcing guide
Sea salt is salt produced by evaporating sea water, either in shallow solar ponds or by boiling or vacuum evaporation of concentrated sea water. It is mostly sodium chloride, with small amounts of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sulfate left from the brine depending on how much it is washed and refined. Brands buy refined fine and coarse sea salt, unrefined grey salt, and flake or fleur de sel grades for finishing.
- Category
- Food staples and powders
- Also known as
- Solar salt · Sea salt crystals · Sel gris · Fleur de sel
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of sea salt
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Refined fine or granulated
Washed, dried and screened sea salt that behaves much like other granulated salt in production.
Coarse or grinder
Larger crystals for grinders, brines and toppings.
Flake
Thin, crunchy flakes from pan or solar evaporation, used for finishing and topping.
Unrefined grey salt (sel gris)
Moist, grey crystals with more of the other sea minerals and some clay; higher moisture and insolubles.
Fleur de sel
Fine crystals skimmed from the surface of solar ponds, sold as a premium finishing salt.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Sodium chloride assay
- Purity as NaCl on a dry basis, usually by argentometric titration of chloride.
- Moisture
- Loss on drying; higher moisture means caking and less salt per kilogram.
- Insolubles and foreign matter
- Water-insoluble matter such as sand or clay and a visual check for foreign particles, which run higher in unrefined grades.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic by ICP-MS, since sea salt carries whatever is in the source water.
- Particle size
- Sieve analysis, which drives flow, dissolution speed and how salt adheres to snacks.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Store sea salt sealed in a dry area off the floor; it absorbs moisture from humid air and cakes, and moist unrefined grades can weep or clump further. Keep finishing grades in rigid containers to protect the flakes. Shelf life or retest dates follow the supplier's specification.
Lots and expiry dates
Mineral content, moisture, color and crystal size vary with the saltworks, harvest season and degree of washing. Record origin (saltworks and country), moisture and insolubles for each lot, and check unrefined grades for visible foreign matter.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 101.61(c) states that the term "salt" is not synonymous with "sodium" and that salt refers to sodium chloride.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)Canada's Food Compositional Standards define salt, other than crude rock salt, as crystalline sodium chloride that may contain not more than 1.4% of calcium sulphate or potassium chloride and 0.1% of other naturally present substances.
Source: inspection.canada.ca (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Sea salt suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking sea salt suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell sea salt? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of sea salt can brands buy?
Common forms include refined fine or granulated, coarse or grinder, flake, unrefined grey salt (sel gris) and fleur de sel. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for sea salt include?
Expect sodium chloride assay, moisture, insolubles and foreign matter, heavy metals and particle size, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should sea salt be stored?
Store sea salt sealed in a dry area off the floor; it absorbs moisture from humid air and cakes, and moist unrefined grades can weep or clump further. Keep finishing grades in rigid containers to protect the flakes. Shelf life or retest dates follow the supplier's specification.
What is the regulatory status of sea salt?
21 CFR 101.61(c) states that the term "salt" is not synonymous with "sodium" and that salt refers to sodium chloride. Canada's Food Compositional Standards define salt, other than crude rock salt, as crystalline sodium chloride that may contain not more than 1.4% of calcium sulphate or potassium chloride and 0.1% of other naturally present substances.
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