Fleur de sel de Guérande

Brittany, France · solar, skimmed by hand from the brine surface · paludier Lapierre

On still summer afternoons a thin crust of crystals forms on the surface of the clay ponds; the paludier skims it with a wooden lousse before it sinks. It is never washed, only drained, so it stays faintly damp and carries a mineral length from the brine film. Ours comes from one producer, whose name is on the label.

• Crystalfine, clustered grain
• Dissolutionslow — a long, gentle salinity
• Moisturedamp
• Adhesionclings to whatever it lands on
• Texturea soft crackle that melts
• Applicationtomatoes, butter, bread, cheese