Having taken a short break for the busy festive season, we are back with our Meet the Producer feature. This month is all about Cornish Sea Salt and their completely pure and natural salt, hand-harvested from the clearest ocean waters in Cornwall. We spoke to Philip Tanswell, MD at Cornish Sea Salt.
GR – The origins of Cornish Sea Salt came about following a chance discovery. Can you tell us more about this and how the brand has developed into what it is today?
The original founder, Tony Fraser, came across an Iron Age salt works in a remote cove on the south coast of Cornwall while out walking. Most people would have made a mental note and carried on with their lives, but it sparked a flame in Tony, and he was determined to re-imagine the sea salt industry for the 21st century.
Cornish Sea Salt was set up to bridge the ancient and modern worlds. Production is still inspired by the original methods of harvesting the goodness of the ocean. Referencing century old techniques, Tony took a journey around the world to source electrolytes from natural sea salts to enrich our brines, allowing the correct conditions for our sea salt flakes to form. We have an ever-evolving range of sea salts and blended sea salts, all with different textures, crystallised and hand-harvested to deliver the unique Cornish mineral profile that makes our flavour so distinctive.
We are one of the very few sea salt industries harvesting from open waters, more specifically the protected Grade A waters of the Atlantic lapping at the shores of The Lizard, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
From humble beginnings on the south Cornish coast, our sea salt has now become international selling in over 38 different countries. Our signature blue pots sit just as happily in Michelin-starred establishments as they do on the tables of home cooks who have an appreciation not only for taste and quality of artisan sea salt, but the exciting versatility and creativity it can bring to cooking.
GR – What is about the geographical environment in Cornwall which helps makes your salt so unique?
Cornish Sea Salt is sourced from Grade A Atlantic waters, eight metres from the shoreline on the Lizard Peninsula and hand harvested in our eco-friendly salt house. Beneath Cornwall’s beauty is a totally unique geographical environment which defines the taste and high mineral content of Cornish Sea Salt. Serpentine, once so sought after in the Victorian era, and gabbro, are both rich in magnesium and calcium, two of the key minerals in our sea salt and essential to life on earth. These, as well as potassium and other trace elements, coat each flake and crystal, which reduces the sodium content and delivers a more intense flavour, with a sweet note.
Logan Rock, Porthcurno, Cornwall, England, UK
GR – What steps as a company are you taking to protect the local environment when harvesting your salt?
We want to bring you the Grade A sea salt you know and love, whilst making sure we do our bit to protect the planet and ensure this tasty natural resource is preserved and ready for people to pinch, crunch and sprinkle for as long as possible.
The environment is right at the forefront of everything we do; our eco-friendly salt house designed and constructed with energy saving features and materials chosen for their green credentials, including 50kw of solar PV and heat recovery systems. We work in an area of outstanding natural beauty and work hard to protect it. We use a combination of age-old traditional salt making techniques alongside innovative harvesting methods to make us more sustainable and ethically sound. The highly scientific but benign and ecologically friendly process extracts seawater, then puts it straight back, removing only 0.5% of the salt from the water – and nothing else. There is an abundance of wildlife thriving on the Lizard, and we regularly see peregrine falcons, buzzards, and seals, not to mention dolphins and basking sharks all along this stretch of coast – a testament to the unspoilt natural habitat.
We are proud of the minimal food miles our salt travels, harvested eight metres from the sea and travelling just 10 miles to be packed. We use reusable and recyclable packaging but are always working on finding improvements and alternatives where possible.
We support international sustainability standards and goals, and we are constantly looking to update the way things work at Cornish Sea Salt HQ to play our part. We’re working towards becoming completely CO2 neutral- through introducing fleet policies, reducing business travel and electricity consumption via utilising the latest energy saving technology, and taking things digital to reduce paperwork.
We’re proud to say we’re renewable energy based, that we use and release no toxic pollutants, and that we’re looking to install even more solar panels and heat pumps to help things tick along as eco-friendly as possible at the salt house while improving energy efficiency.
GR – What makes Cornish Sea Salt different to other similar products on the market and why should people buy it?
The unique geology gives our sea salt a unique mineral profile, with over 60 minerals, which means it really packs a punch! You can use less of it, compared to other salts, and get the same intensity of flavour. The cocktail of sea minerals completely transforms flavour, compared to table salt, and you can do a taste test to see for yourself! Cut a piece of tomato or cucumber in half and sprinkle a good portion (1g) of basic processed table salt on one side (NaCl) and on the other side, a similar amount of Cornish Sea Salt. Try them – our salt always comes out on top. The combination of sea minerals means you taste in quadrophonic, as opposed to simple, one-dimensional sodium.
It is loved by Michelin-starred chefs and sits in some of the best restaurants in the world, as well as being at home in the kitchens of novice and passionate home cooks.
GR – Do you ever partner with other manufacturers to create products that features your sea salt? If so, can you tell us about the criteria you use when deciding which manufacturers to work with?
We’re really lucky to work with some amazing manufacturers and are proud that our salt is used in lots of different products. We are found in many different Brands products including Quicke’s cheese, Kelly’s Ice Cream, Aunt Bessie’s Yorkshire Puddings and Seed & Bean’s ‘Cornish Sea Salt Dark Chocolate’. We have also collaborated with fashion designer turned ceramicist, Henry Holland, on a range of salt pigs. We are working on some more very exciting collaborations too, including spirits and kitchenware.
We look for like-minded brands and companies with similar audiences where we can make an impact, as well as strong sustainability credentials and a keen eye for quality. We also love to work with other Cornish companies to celebrate everything Cornwall has to offer.
GR – Your products are now selling in over 38 countries nationally and are used in numerous Michelin-starred establishments which is testament to the quality and taste of your products. What future plans do you have for the brand?
We are always looking for exciting opportunities, whether that is through new product development, exciting collaborations or exploring new markets. We have just launched in the US, and are about to launch in China, which is really exciting! We are always developing new products too; keep an eye out for something new coming soon…
GR – For novice cooks wanting to introduce your products into their cooking, which product/s would you recommend starting with?
We’ve got lots of delicious recipe ideas on our Instagram pages, which feature a range of our products and inspiration. From something as simple as sprinkling some sea salt flakes on top of breakfast eggs or chocolate brownies, to taking the fuss out of seasoning with our flavour blends and adding a pinch or two to everyday meals, there is a seasoning for every dish!
We LOVE Cornish Sea Salt Chilli Hit sprinkled on top of smashed avocado on toast – so simple but it really makes a difference. Or our Really Garlicky seasoning can replace fresh garlic, so sprinkling some into a pasta sauce or making your own garlic butter is super simple and quick.
GR – What are your best selling products?
Cornish Sea Salt Flakes and Crystals have been around the longest so are well-loved, but our Smoked Sea Salt is very popular. It is super easy to use in the kitchen when you want to inject a sweet smoky aroma and taste! Obviously brilliant on all protein, but also a great way of adding some depth of flavour to vegetables.
GR – Do you have a favourite product and why?
My main two go-to products are the smoked sea salt and the fine flake. The fine flake is the most versatile sea salt we do, with a light delicate texture and sweet salty taste. It covers most bases, and it’s the salt that lives in my salt pig at home.
To view the full range of Cornish Sea Salt products please click here
