Isle of Skye Sea Salt Company

Producer: Isle of Skye Sea Salt Company, Skye
Product: Pure Sea Salt Crystals 
Region: Scotland
Category: From the sea, artisan
Congratulations to Isle of Skye Sea Salt Company for being awarded the accolade of ‘Highly Commended’ for their Pure Sea Salt Crystals at the 2017 delicious. Produce Awards. Click here to find out more. 
What they do:
The last known attempt to produce sea salt on the Isle of Skye was in the early 1700s. In 2011, and with no prior experience of food production, four friends set out to restore salt-making to the shores of Skye in a such a way that would complement rather than compromise the island’s unique natural heritage. With no grid connection to their loch-shore site where they wanted to collect the salt, they went back to basics, relying upon the sun and the wind to dry and evaporate the crystals. As the only producer in the country to produce salt this way, they had to design and refine their production methods from scratch: creating bespoke tunnels from recycled or recyclable materials and fine-tuning the process as they learned. The result is unrefined salt crystals with a naturally high mineral content retained by the single evaporation process, making for a crumbly, distinctive texture and flavour now widely celebrated by leading chefs as well as home cooks. In addition, their commitment to sustainability and investing in their local island community through employment and retail has led to the company recently being welcomed into Slow Food’s Ark of Taste. 
What the judges said:
The judges admired what the team had achieved from a standing start, as well as its environmental credentials and commitment to the local community.
Visit the website:  Isle of Skye Sea Salt Company