Oils, Salt, Sugar and Honey · FFET10454

Sea salt

Sea salt is made by boiling sea brine or drying seawater in the sun; Changlu and Huai salt come from distinct coastal areas.

Sea salt is obtained by evaporating seawater, traditionally by boiling sea brine or drying seawater in the sun; Changlu and Huai salt are both coastal sea salts. The Changlu salt field lies on the northern coast of Tianjin's Binhai New Area, while Huai salt production extends along the Jiangsu coast from Lianyungang to Nantong; the Huai salt craft was listed in the fourth national intangible cultural heritage batch in 2014 as an extension item.

What

Sea salt is obtained by evaporating seawater. Traditional methods include boiling sea brine and drying seawater in the sun. Changlu and Huai salt come from different coastal production areas.^1,2,3

When

A historical text describes boiling sea brine to obtain salt and, in Haifeng and other places, letting seawater into ponds to dry in the sun; another account says the Ming dynasty shifted from boiling to sun-drying. The available evidence does not establish the earliest date of sea salt production.^2,3

Where

The Changlu salt field lies on the northern coast of Tianjin's Binhai New Area. Huai salt production extends along the Jiangsu coast from Lianyungang to Nantong.^1,2

How

Huai salt production has four steps: preparing the flats, making brine, crystallizing the salt, and raking it up. As the water evaporates the salt forms crystals, which are collected. Historical writing also describes using salt to keep fish and meat from spoiling.^2,3

Why

Sea salt production uses coastal seawater and flats, letting the water evaporate so the salt forms crystals.²

Impact and influence

The Huai salt craft was included in the fourth national intangible cultural heritage batch in 2014 as an extension item, under the name "solar salt-making techniques (Huai salt-making craft)". This recognition applies to the Huai salt craft, not all sea salt or the Changlu salt field.²

Sources (3)